The success of man, on earth as well as in the hereafter, lies in Islam alone, opined Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari in his keynote address inaugurating the three-day All India Members Meet of JIH on November 4.
The Jamaat chief said human mind cannot discover a better system than Islam as intellect or reason is not enough to attain ultimate success. Man has been trying the various isms and ideologies but this attempt has led him to nowhere. Though the world, he added, has made immense progress in science and technology, it is plunged into deep moral and economic crises. The world also is passing through degradation of moral values with permissiveness and sexual anarchy being promoted as a common value. Instead of discouraging it, deviant sexual behaviour is being glamorised by market forces and human values are being eroded.
Presenting a very chaotic and gloomy situation prevailing in the country, the JIH leader claimed that Islam has a viable alternative system that cannot be rejected on the mere basis of faith.
“We have to reach out to the large segments of masses to tell them that they can attain success in every sphere of life only by following Islam,” he exhorted the delegates.
In his typical scholarly style, Maulana Umari raised issues of exclusive economic policies which are responsible for widening gap between the poor and the rich. He said ‘India Shining campaign’ by earlier governments ignored people’s problems at every level. He emphasised that these hollow attempts have led to poverty, disparity, hunger, starvation and subsequent conflicts and violations of basic human rights across the country as elsewhere also.
The JIH chief reiterated the motto and the goals of establishing a just and peaceful society in the country. He also stressed to struggle for upholding democratic values that Islam presents so that the nation recognises that JIH is here for a progressive and just society.
The Members Meet commenced with the recitation and Dars of Verses 133-36 of Sūrah Aal-Imran by Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Islahi, Member JIH Central Advisory Council. In the light of these verses of the Holy Qur’ān, the Maulana reminded the audience of the salient features of those loving to Allah the Exalted. He said they spend in the way of Allah in prosperity as well as adversity both, control their rage, forgive others’ shortcomings and do ihsan, and turn to Allah whenever they happen to commit some error or sin. The Maulana also said the believers need to serve first the servants of Allah.
The Inaugural session also witnessed JIH Secretary-General Nusrat Ali presenting progress report of Jamaat activities during the current four-year term. In his report, he covered major domains of Jamaat activities like Dawah, Islamic Society, Tarbiyah and Tanzeem. Jamaat’s special efforts towards interest-free banking for which JIH is pressing the Government and Reserve Bank of India to allow Islamic banking in India also found special mention in the report. He also mentioned JIH efforts for political participation especially in Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra where JIH allowed its members to contest Panchayat elections.
“Men and women are not competitors and rivals but two basic entities of a better society,” observed Mrs. Atiya Siddiqua, Organiser, JIH Women’s Wing, while addressing the Members Meet.
Speaking on “Challenges Before Women Today and Role of Islamic Movement,” Mrs. Siddiqua attacked the concept of women empowerment. She said it has brought in a rift between men and women and serves as a great challenge for women in society. Increasing cases of domestic violence, female foeticide, declining sex ratio are some of the major concerns and challenges that women face today.
In the behest of modernisation and fashion, she emphasised, beauty contests have paved the way for nudity and vulgarity. Live-in relationship, extra-marital affairs, consumerism and materialism are few, if not all, the challenges the women face in the world today. She also called on the delegates to play a proactive role in changing this face of society and building a better society which is family-based and gives women their rights and keeps a vigil on the negative prophecy and portrayal of women.
MUSLIM LEADERS SPEAK
After last-minute withdrawal by the Delhi police, JIH rally was converted into a public meeting held on November 7 at JIH headquarters where speakers registered their protest and anger against the curb on basic human and democratic right by the Delhi police only for a VVIP.
JIH Secretary-General Nusrat Ali said, “We register our protest on curbing of our legal and democratic rights in this country only for a guest whose country is responsible for many problems of the world. He said that this country is not a country of any party, family or a group; this is the country of all citizens and every citizen has right to present his or her view to make this nation better. “JIH has a programme to alleviate poverty from this country and we felt that we should present our view to the people of this nation,” Mr. Ali said.
He questioned how America and Israel can help our country when they have destroyed Baghdad and Kabul. “We are strengthening our relations with Israel which has changed an independent country Palestine into a jail.”
Criticising the government’s economic and social policies, Mr. Ali said that the country had failed to show any progress on Human Development Index indicators but a number of millionaires and billionaires are increasing. He also pinpointed the deteriorating law and order problem in the country where hundreds of Muslim youths had been illegally detained, tortured and encountered.
The JIH leader also asked Indian Muslims and their leaders to voice for all major problems in this country to show that Indian Muslims are not indifferent of the problems and are committed to contribute with their ideas.
In his presidential address, Maulana Jalaluddin Umari urged the nation and the leaders of the cross-sections of the country to “analyse the message of Islam and then turn it down only if you feel it’s not the alternative for a successful society”. He regretted by questioning, “We follow Marx and Lincoln, were they Indians?” He further said, “Then why not give a hearing to your own brethren who wish to see a better India?”
Maulana Mufti Mukarram Mehmud, Imam of Masjid Fatehpuri, quoting non-Muslim scholars, said Islam is the only solution to all the problems. He further emphasised that Muslims need to shun organisational bias and work devotedly for the prosperity of the country especially to curb the monster of inflation. He also criticised the Government spending on CWG and Obama visit.
Mr. Navaid Hamid, Member of National Integration Council, represented All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat. He strongly condemned the arrests of innocent youth and demanded that investigating agencies must be made accountable.
He also appreciated the political efforts of JIH in Kerala and said the problems in democracy can be solved through active participation in politics. He also demanded prosecution of RSS cadre, who are found guilty of spreading terrorism, at par with the other criminals and terrorists.
Citing the demographical changes in India, he pointed that, more than 50% are youth and we should plan and strategise our actions according to the modern trend.
Shabbir Ahmed Ansari, President All India OBC Organisation said, “There are reservations for Muslims but it is the misfortune that we are unable to take the benefits of these reservations. The country is known for its reservations and positive discrimination policies.”
Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Editor Milli Gazette called on the Muslim Ummah to fulfil their basic duties in the society. He further said that Zakat should be implemented in a manner that it can eradicate poverty from society.
Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Aslam, JIH Secretary and Editor Radiance Viewsweekly lamented at the state of affairs in the country, as the country is facing inflation and corruption.
Maulana Mehmood Madni, MP and leader of Jamiatul Ulema Hind, also criticised the government policies and said that we are going to lose more than gaining from USA. He asked the Muslims to come forward to solve the problems of others and expressed his willingness to lend his support in this cause.
EXHIBITION
An exhibition highlighting Israeli aggression on Palestine was also part of the conference which was inaugurated by Amir Jamaat Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari at SIO grounds. Hundreds of photos, audios and videos and other material were displayed in the exhibition. Exhibition coordinator Shujat Husaini said that India has always been on the Palestinian side and Indian people have always been sensitive to the problems of Palestinian people and have supported their aspiration for freedom and dignity. However recent paradigm shifts in our foreign policies have ignored the Palestinian cause and their plight. This exhibition aimed to sensitise Indian people for the forgotten Palestinian cause.
BOOK RELEASE
Prior to the commencement of the Members Meet, Maulana Umari released a book edited by Mr. Ahmad Ali Akhtar. This book was published in memory of Late S.M. Iqbal of Gaya, Bihar, who breathed his last in 2005.
“Whenever I met him, I always found him a man of action, always touring from one place to another,” observed the Maulana.
In a brief book release session, Late S.M. Iqbal was his different qualities of head and heart. The speakers recalled that the departed leader played a very active role in activating the students organisations and strived hard to disseminate the message of Islam.