Maulana Arshad Madani says his organisation would move the Supreme Court if Parliament passes the bill
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Extending his support to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s (AIMPLB) planned protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on March 13, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani said Muslims are being forced to come out on the streets to reclaim their rights.
For the past 12 years, he said, Muslims have shown great patience and tolerance. However, when the concerns of Muslims about the Waqf properties are being disregarded and an unconstitutional law is being forcibly imposed, there is no other option but to protest against it.
He emphasised that peaceful protest for religious rights is the democratic right of every citizen in the country.
“Since the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill, we have been making every possible effort democratically to convince the government that Waqf is a purely religious matter. Waqf properties are donations made by our ancestors for the welfare of the community, and therefore, we cannot tolerate any government interference in them,” he said.
He pointed out that the decision to refer the bill to a joint parliamentary committee was just a pretense as the suggestions and advice of opposition members were rejected.
He said that from the very beginning, his group maintained that Muslims cannot accept any law that changes the nature of Waqf or the intent of the donor (Waqif), as Waqf is a religious obligation established by the Qur’an and Hadith.
Maulana Madani said that in the working committee meeting of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind on 12th February 2025, it was decided that if, God forbid, the new Waqf law is passed, all state units of the party will challenge this law in their respective state high courts.
Additionally, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will also approach the Supreme Court as courts remain the final recourse for the community.
“We cannot accept any law that goes against Shariah. Muslims cannot compromise on their Shariah at all, as this is a matter of their rights and their existence. The current government wants to take away the rights granted to Muslims by the country’s constitution by bringing a new Waqf Amendment Act. Along with fighting through the legal process, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will also use all democratic and constitutional means with Muslims, other minorities, and justice-loving people,” said Maulana Madani.
Maulana Madani asserted that although sectarianism and hatred based on religion have made the country’s situation extremely dangerous, people should not lose hope. The encouraging thing is that, despite all the conspiracies, a majority of the country is against sectarianism.
“We are a dynamic nation, and dynamic nations do not remain at the mercy of circumstances; rather, they change the course of events through their character and actions. This is a difficult time for us, and therefore, we should never lose our faith, patience, hope, and determination at any point. Time does not always remain stagnant. Nations continuously face trials. Muslims did not come into this world to perish. Muslims have survived in these conditions for over fourteen hundred years and will continue to live until the Day of Judgment. We did not bow before the tyranny and oppression of the British; we preferred to be hanged. Now, no power can make us bow down. A Muslim only bows his head before One and Only Allah,” said Maulana Madni.
