The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) on 29 May passed a resolution against the attempts being made by the BJP government in several states to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying it “clearly interferes with Islam’s laws”, and called out the “negative and divisive politics” being employed by the “communal forces” which are raising old disputes over campaigns against the Gyanvapi Masjid and Shahi Eidgah.
Passed on the second day of a gathering of Muslim bodies in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, the JUH resolution, that ThePrint has seen, said that Islam’s laws on issues “like marriage, divorce, khula (through which a woman can divorce her husband), inheritance, etc, have not been created by some society, community, group or person, but come from their religious texts…. They are part of our religious directive, just like the namaaz, roza, haj, etc, mentioned in the Quran and Hadees. Hence, any changes to them or attempts to stop someone from following them is a clear interference with Islam and the guarantee [of freedom to practice and propagate religion] given in section 25 of the Constitution,” reads the resolution.
It further states: “Despite this, the government in power is determined to implement the UCC with the intent of bringing an end to the personal law followed in several states and is trying to neglect the real spirit of the Constitution by neglecting its assurances and the promises of old governments. This congregation of the JUH wants to make it clear that no Muslim accepts any kind of interference in Islamic laws.”
Speaking at the congregation, Maulana Arshad Madni, president of the JUH’s Arshad faction, said: “Our fight is not with any Hindu, but with those in the government who are trying to damage the country by dividing it.”
On the issues of Gyanvapi Masjid and Shahi Eidgah, the JUH expressed “deep resentment and dislike” towards the “forces trying to spoil the peace of the country by raking up disputes on ancient religious places and the attitude of those political parties supporting them.”
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Going against India’s Constitution
The resolution mentions these campaigns against the Gyanvapi Masjid and the Shahi Eidgah, and says that these can seriously harm the peace and integrity of the country.
“By raising such disputes, they [the government in power] are looking for chances of communal clashes and negative politics. However, it is clear that the campaigns being run in the name of rejuvenating old disputes and correcting the so-called historical wrongs and excesses, do not benefit the country in any way. It is sad that the orders of lower courts have helped this divisive politics and shown a clear disregard for the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991,” states the resolution.
“Rising above religion, we need to take forward the Islamic message of humanity and if we do it, Inshaallah, the situation would definitely change. Those trying to fuel the fire would themselves perish in it,” said Madni.
He recommends that Muslims should appeal to the majority communities to understand the functions of a madrasa. “We should fight the situation with love and should explain to them about madrasas and the tenets of education,” he said. “If Muslims don’t understand the situation and take to the streets, then they too would strengthen the communal forces. Our fight is not with any Hindu but with the government which is damaging the country by dividing the people in the name of religion.”
At the meeting, Maulana Mahmood Madni, president of the JUH’s Mahmood faction, also came down strongly on those subjecting the Muslims community to “go to Pakistan” taunts. “If you can’t bear our religion, then you should go elsewhere. You don’t have to send anyone (to Pakistan). They say ‘go to Pakistan’ over the smallest things. Brother, you weren’t given the choice to go to Pakistan. We were and we rejected it. So, we will not go, those who like the idea of sending us can go themselves,” he said.
(edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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