JUH governing council passes several resolutions

Press note
Jamiat Ulama-I- Hind governing council passes several resolutions at its two-day meeting
Urges government to back Muslim reservation and condemns denigration campaign against madrasa and Muslims

New Delhi July 05: Passing several resolutions during its two-day Governing Council meeting held on July 4-5 at its headquarters, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH ) strongly urged the Union Government to bring comprehensive legislation to address the mounting cases of Islamophobia in the country.

The century-old organization also vehemently denounced attempts to saffronize the educational system, enforce a uniform civil code, and target Islamic madrasas. It also fiercely opposed forcing one’s religious customs and practices on students from other religions in schools. It also backed the Muslim quota, debunking the false claim that it is based on religion.

Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, the chief of Jamiat, presided over the meeting and emphasized that love and unity, not animosity, are what the country needs to prosper. He denounced the rise in anti-Muslim propaganda and mob lynchings.

The meeting deliberated upon a range of issues, including rising Islamophobia, mob lynching, Muslim reservation, targeting madrasas, UCC, saffronization of education, political situation, Israel-Palestine conflict, and other issues.

In recent years, madrasas have been targeted under one pretext or another. The recent adverse actions and false statements made against madrasas and their Islamic scholars by certain BJP chief ministers and the NCPCR chief were observed with great concern at the meeting.

In the resolution for ‘Necessary Measures for Protection and Safeguard of Islamic Madarsas’, the governing council demanded that the government and other concerned authorities act immediately to stop the ongoing misinformation campaign against madrasas.

It termed the hostile attitude and actions towards the madrasa system an enormous loss for the country and the community and vehemently condemned the negative sentiments directed against Islamic madrasas, which are a vital educational resource for neglected and impoverished Indian Muslims.

These institutions are essential to the community’s moral and educational advancement because they support religious education and preserve cultural heritage. Their contributions to maintaining the country’s integrity and security and instilling a sense of patriotism in young people are invaluable.

In order to tackle the present circumstances, the meeting also urged Islamic madrasas to concentrate on internal reform and ensure the implementation of the suggestions made by the ‘Standing Committee for the Protection of Madrasas.’

The meeting also condemned the imposition of certain religious practices in schools. The resolution vehemently denounces the attempt by the Union and state governments to impose religiously incompatible practices on pupils and saffronize the educational system.

Islam is based on the concept of monotheism, and no Muslim is allowed to accept the worship of deities other than Allah or take part in any actions that are symbolic of other faiths.

“Every citizen of this country is free to uphold their own religious practices and beliefs under the provisions of the constitution.

Therefore, it is an infringement on religious freedom and a violation of the constitution when the government imposes mandatory directives on schoolchildren to conduct Surya Namaskar, Saraswati Puja, Hindu songs, ashlokas, or wear tilak. Muslims and any reasonable Indian would find such mandates unacceptable,” it stated further.

It urged the government to desist from any such provocative actions, but it also urged Muslims to instill in their children a strong belief in Tawheed and make sure they don’t engage in any polytheistic practices while attending school. If forced to do so, they ought to file a protest and use every available legal defense to safeguard their rights.

On the UCC and the abrogation of constitutional rights

The governing council expressed concerns, saying that the push for a uniform civil code is a front in a larger plot to restrict people’s freedom of religion and fundamental rights. A number of social groups, including Muslims, find this action unacceptable. The Uttarakhand government’s arbitrary use of the Uniform Civil Code is unfair.

The Union Government and its coalition partners are urged by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind to carefully study the Law Commission of India’s recommendations based on public feedback rather than moving forward with any proposal for a uniform civil code.

In accordance with Islamic principles, it also exhorted the community to firmly preserve Shari’ah and provide fairness for women in society. It is unacceptable to allow injustices against women in areas like inheritance and distribution.

On the issue of Muslim reservations, the resolution clarified that Article 16(4) of the Constitution mandates reservations for underrepresented and marginalized groups. It must be made clear that the country has never benefited from the use of religion as a justification for discriminating against anyone.

Within the framework of the Indian Constitution, special reservations for Muslims have been introduced in a number of Indian states through proactive affirmative measures meant to lessen social and economic inequities.

It is important to remember that these reservations are not based on religious identity but rather on the relative backwardness of particular populations. This perspective aligns with India’s constitutional principles of equality, non-discrimination, and social justice, aimed at advancing economically and educationally disadvantaged groups nationwide.

Social and educational backwardness are the foundations of the OBC quota. Constitutional rights are upheld by the four percent sub-quota set aside for Muslim Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Karnataka, as well as quotas in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

The meeting calls on other state governments to follow suit and embrace this admirable approach instead of caving in to political pressure.

It was noted that, in actuality, a sizable portion of the Muslim minority continues to face discrimination. According to Article 341 of the Constitution, Muslim castes and communities are accorded the same treatment as scheduled castes. On the other hand, under Section 341, a Hindu loses his benefits if he converts to Islam or Christianity.

This is an extreme case of discrimination based on religion. Jamiat demands that the government remove religious bars from Article 341.

On the educational and economic backwardness of the community, the resolution stated that several recent reports, including the Sachar Committee report, highlighted this aspect. In this context, Jamiat urged the Government of India to allocate funds for establishing schools, colleges, and vocational training centers in Muslim-concentrated areas and provide microfinance, interest-free loans, and business development services to aspiring Muslim entrepreneurs, among other measures.

On Waqf Properties, the meeting vehemently denounces the evil plot and dishonesty against Waqf Properties by the communal forces and the ruling party. It asserted that Muslims donated Waqf holdings to help the underprivileged and to meet requirements related to religion and society.

It warned that any attempt to repeal the Waqf Act would be seen as a plot to jeopardize both the rights of the Muslim minority and the country’s well-being.

In order to better utilize Waqf properties, the government is advised to fulfill its constitutional obligations and concentrate on the following measures right away: free all Waqf properties occupied by different governmental and non-governmental organizations from the 1963 Limitation Act, at least for Waqf holdings created after 1857; exempt Waqf properties from rental laws in all states; immediately form Waqf Boards in areas where they have not been established; appoint full-time CEOs in all Waqf Board offices; and create a special cadre for Indian Waqf Services similar to the IAS and IPS.

It also makes demands for activating the Waqf Development Corporation, presenting the Action Taken Report (ATR) as soon as possible, and allowing prayers in abandoned mosques under the administration of the Waqf Department and the Archaeological Department without delay.

It further urged that the Waqf Board be changed into an independent organization akin to the SGPC.
Addressing the Assam Land Policy, the resolution declared that it is unconstitutional to force members of linguistic and religious minorities to evacuate their land in accordance with the 2019 Assam Land Policy. It called on the Union and state governments to protect the equality of the Assamese people, remove this clause, and make sure that minorities—Muslims in particular—are not denied the land they have been entitled to for more than a century.

On another issue related to Assam, the NRC, the meeting said it is a matter of serious concern that the NRC is not implemented even after it has been finalized. The government must issue a mandatory notification for the publication of the NRC to resolve this prolonged issue.

Regarding the current Israeli assault, the resolution vehemently denounces the war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza as well as its aggression against the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem and Gaza.

It calls on the governments of Islamic nations, the Arab League, and India to use diplomatic, political, and legal pressure in addition to taking decisive action to put an end to the crimes against humanity that the occupying forces are committing.

They ought to back South Africa’s efforts to hold Israel accountable before the Security Council and the International Court of Justice.

Excerpt from speech of Maulana Mahmood Madani, JUH president

On the second day of the governing council meeting of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, JUH President Maulana Mahmood Asa’d Madani took a clear and firm stance on the Government of India’s policy regarding Palestine and the recent notifications by the Government of Uttar Pradesh concerning religious madrasas.

Maulana Madani stated that the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh has instructed all District Magistrates to ensure that children enrolled in unrecognized madrasas, totaling 4204, are admitted to schools under RTE. He emphasized that Islamic schools are exempt from the Right to Education Act, a constitutional right we cannot relinquish.

Maulana Madani also stressed the importance of Islamic scholars being able to recognize and respond to the demands of the present time. He warned that failure to understand these demands would prevent scholars from effectively guiding young boys and girls.

Maulana Madani asserted that Ulama are the pride of Indian Muslims, and their weakness would weaken the community, urging them to strengthen themselves without letting age or shyness be hindrances.

Regarding the situation in Palestine, Maulana Madani highlighted India’s historical support for Palestine, noting Gandhi’s decision to lead a public movement for Palestinians. He condemned India’s current arms supply to Israel as a grave betrayal of the country’s history and traditions, emphasizing that such actions should be vehemently opposed.

Maulana Madani described mob lynching as India’s worst problem and lamented its consequences for a civilized society. He called for organized efforts across districts to address and prevent such events.
Speaking on the role of media, Maulana Madani criticized its alignment with ruling powers, which he argued leads to societal destruction rather than improvement of the political landscape. He called for a transformation in media practices to better serve the nation.

Maulana Madani underscored that Jamiat Ulama is not merely an educational or social organization but also an ideological one committed to social work and education. He emphasized that Jamiat would never compromise its principles in pursuit of social and educational initiatives like building schools, hospitals, and colleges.

Addressing environmental concerns, Maulana Madani stressed the importance of water conservation and tree planting. He advocated for mosques to recycle ablution water and increase tree planting efforts, emphasizing the ongoing charity involved in such endeavors.