| We Reject all Forms of Terrorism: Deoband | | | | Rabata Madaris Islamia (All India Madrasas |
| Scholars from Major Muslim Schools of Thought Join | | | | Association) Darul Uloom Deoband. It started at 8:30 |
| Hands | | | | AM and continued till afternoon amid resounding |
| | | | | slogans and waving hands with aged elders of Muslim |
| Muhammadullah Khalili Qasmi, Deoband | | | | community sitting throughout the programme at the |
| It came as a sudden surprise for majority of people | | | | splendid pucca dais. |
| to hear Darul Uloom holding an anti-terrorism | | | | |
| conference, since they have always been familiar to | | | | Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat |
| watch and read madrasas as cradle of terrorists. The | | | | Ulama-i-Hind said: "The voice we raised here will not |
| All India Anti-Terrorism Conference convened by | | | | be confined to Deoband. We will oppose terrorism to |
| Darul Uloom at Deoband on 25 February 2008 proved | | | | every nook and corner of India. We will take this |
| to be a landmark and timely decision taken by | | | | anti-terrorism initiative to every state, every city and |
| insightful and perceptive administration of Darul | | | | every town of the country. Maulana Madani went to |
| Uloom. Being an academic institution and avoiding any | | | | an extreme challenging the government to "Either |
| political engagement, Darul Uloom was following the | | | | change the constitution and declare the country a |
| tradition of remaining silent and busying itself with the | | | | Hindu Rashtra or give us justice." He termed the |
| main mission for which it was meant, except some | | | | conference beginning of a country-wide movement |
| cases when it condemned the terrorist activities and | | | | against terrorism and injustice. |
| injustice done upon any community on human and | | | | |
| moral grounds. But, when it felt the heat of war | | | | Maulana Muhammad Salim Qasmi, Mohtamim Darul |
| against terror approaching nearer and victimizing the | | | | Uloom Waqf Deoband said: "The anti-Islam elements |
| innocents, when it saw the baseless propaganda | | | | want to wipe off our history, but our history is so |
| against madrasas and madrasa people being | | | | bright that this temporary turmoil cannot eclipse its |
| translated into action, it felt it its obligation to rise | | | | beauty." Without naming America, he said that one |
| against injustice and oppression that may lead to ruin | | | | country is labelling Muslims with terrorism only to |
| the country. And, being the mother of all madrasas in | | | | divert the world attention from its state terrorism. |
| the Indian Sub-continent and headquarter of Islamic | | | | |
| renascence in India it had full right to take the | | | | Maulana Jalaluddin Umri of Jamat Islami Hind said: "The |
| initiative and lead the movement. | | | | Quran was revealed to establish peace in the world |
| | | | | and these madrasas teach the same; therefore it is |
| In this background, Darul Uloom Deoband convened | | | | nonsense to link madrasas with terror. The Islamic |
| the All India Anti-Terrorism Conference. As it was | | | | madrasas are harbingers of peace." He added that |
| expected the anti-terrorism call met unprecedented | | | | the conference is a challenge to terrorism and it will |
| success. It was attended by more than 20,000 | | | | turn the direction of the winds. |
| people including leaders from major Muslim schools of | | | | |
| thought, delegates of madrasas and Ulama. The | | | | Maulana Salman Nadwi of Nadwatul Ulama Lucknow |
| conference was attended by delegates and | | | | stated that this platform demands the scholars from |
| representatives from Jamiat Ulama Hind, Jamat Islami | | | | all schools of thought to maintain the unity of Muslim |
| Hind, Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband, Nadwatul Ulama | | | | Ummah. He added that the worst terrorism is state |
| Lucknow, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Muslim | | | | terrorism and the biggest terrorist is Bush and |
| Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Milli | | | | America. |
| Council, Firangi Mahal, Jamiatul Falah Bilaria Ganj, | | | | |
| Dargah of Ajmer Sharif and so on. Most prominent | | | | Maulana Wali Rahmani of Jamia Rahmani Munger |
| among those who addressed the Conference were | | | | (Bihar) asserted: "In previous time we ardently |
| Maulana Salim Qasmi (Darul Uloom Waqf Deoband), | | | | wished the leaders of all Muslims schools of thought |
| Maulana Arshad Madani (President Jamiat Ulama Hind), | | | | to join hands cutting across the lines of sects and |
| Maulana Jalaluddin Umri (Ex-President Jamat Islami | | | | thoughts. Now, the long cherished dream has come |
| Hind), Maulana Asghar Imam Salafi (President of | | | | true today when towering personalities of all schools |
| Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith), Maulana Mahmood Madani, | | | | of thought are gathered at one platform to wage |
| Maulana Salman Nadwi, Maulana Wali Rahmani. While | | | | war against terrorism." |
| Maulana Rabe Hasani Nadwi (President of All India | | | | |
| Muslim Personal Law Board and Head of Nadwatul | | | | Maulana Mahmood Madani, General Secretary Jamiat |
| Ulama Lucknow) and Maulana Mufti Muhammad | | | | Ulama-i-Hind said that these madrasas teach peace, |
| Mukarram (Shahi Imam of Fatahpuri Mosque Delhi) | | | | tranquility and have no link with terrorism. The Ulama |
| conveyed their messages in favour of the | | | | of India have given sacrifices for the cause of this |
| conference. | | | | land so their descendants will not let their land to be |
| | | | | ruined. He lashed out at the foreign policy of US and |
| The much debated definition of terrorism was arrived | | | | said that it is the mother of terrorists. He said: "We |
| at in the conference as: "Any action that targets | | | | have always condemned terrorism and today we |
| innocents, whether by an individual or by any | | | | gathered here to affirm the same resolution of ours |
| government and its agencies or by a private | | | | against terrorism. Terrorism, whether by a state, by |
| organisation constitutes an act of terrorism." | | | | groups or by individuals, is equally deplorable and |
| | | | | condemnable." |
| Maulana Marghoobur Rahman, Mohtamim Darul Uloom | | | | |
| Deoband and President of Rabta Madris-e-Islamia (All | | | | Maulana Khalid Rasheed from Lucknow said that |
| India Madrasas Association) in his presidential address, | | | | America is sowing the seeds of terrorism in the |
| which was read out on behalf of him by Maulana | | | | entire world and the anti-Islamic powers are afraid of |
| Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, justified the need for such a | | | | Islam's widening circle; therefore they are maligning |
| conference: "Terrorism and its consequences make | | | | Islam in the name of terrorism. He said that there are |
| the most serious concern of our society today at | | | | terrorists who profess other religions but their |
| large. However, for the Islamic madrasas this issue | | | | terrorism is not linked with their religion. This is sheer |
| has become great challenge and threat." | | | | injustice that if a few astray Muslim youths get |
| | | | | involved in terror activities the whole community |
| Denouncing terrorism Maulana Marghoobur Rahman | | | | even Islam is blamed. |
| asserted: "We do not have any link or association | | | | |
| with terrorism whatsoever." He condemned terrorism | | | | Maulana Khalilur Rahman Sajjad Nomani of Lucknow |
| in all its forms and manifestations, whether by state, | | | | said: "It is strange enough that Muslims are oppressed |
| organizations or individuals: "We reject all forms of | | | | all across the world and they are blamed for terrorist |
| terrorism and do not allow any discrimination. | | | | activities. This multiple oppression against Muslims |
| Terrorism is completely wrong and unthoughtful act | | | | indicates to a new divine change in the world." He |
| whoever commits, irrespective of his association to | | | | expressed his hope that this horrible chapter of |
| whatever religion, community and class he belongs | | | | tyranny shall come to an end one day. |
| to." | | | | |
| | | | | Maulana Ghulam Muhammad Wustanvi said: The |
| Pointing out to the origin of the terror he said: | | | | attitude (of the Government machinery) towards |
| "Terrorism has not originated in our country, but the | | | | Muslims and madrasas in intolerable, we condemn this |
| menace has been distributed to us by global powers | | | | attitude, while Maulana Abdul Aleem Farooqi of Darul |
| whose ideologies are based on Zionism, and their | | | | Muballigheen Lucknow stated that in order to maintain |
| single point agenda is Zion hegemony. They are the | | | | love, brotherhood and coexistence the Hindus are |
| front runners in spreading disorder and violence on | | | | required to safeguard the mosques and Muslims are |
| the earth." | | | | asked to protect the mandirs. Only this unity can |
| | | | | take the country forward. |
| He, in clear-cut terms, distanced madrasas and Islamic | | | | |
| institutions from the accusations: "Islamic madrasas, | | | | Maulana Ameeduz Zaman Kairanwi (Muslim Majlis |
| which are the real flag-bearers of the Islamic | | | | Mushawarat Delhi) said that Islam presents this |
| teachings, hereby declare without mincing words that | | | | matchless philosophy which declares killing a human |
| they do not have any truck with terrorism." He | | | | being tantamount to killing the entire humanity. |
| explicitly proclaimed Islam being a religion of love and | | | | |
| peace: "Terrorism negates completely the teachings | | | | The All India Anti-Terrorism Conference adopted a |
| of Islam as it is the faith of love and peace and any | | | | historic declaration which is all set to be a create |
| terrorist activity which targets innocent people | | | | history in the fight against terrorism and injustice. The |
| directly contradicts Islam's concept of peace." | | | | declaration explaining the stand of Islam about all |
| | | | | kinds violence saying: "Islam is the religion of mercy |
| Maulana Marghoobur Rahman blamed administration of | | | | for all humanity. It is the fountainhead of eternal |
| playing partial and biased role as he said: "We watch | | | | peace, tranquillity, security. Islam sternly condemns all |
| helplessly the security and law and order agencies | | | | kinds of oppression, violence and terrorism. It has |
| plying their role irresponsibly. Without applying their | | | | regarded oppression, mischief, rioting and murdering |
| minds they target Muslims after any terrorist attack. | | | | among severest sins and crimes." The conference |
| They hide their shortcoming by making an escape | | | | condemned all kinds of violence and terrorism in the |
| goat of innocent people." | | | | strongest possible terms and strongly demanded the |
| | | | | Indian Government to curb those maligning the |
| Maulana Marghooburt Rahman advised the | | | | madrasas and Muslims. The administrative machinery |
| government: "If you are really serious about | | | | was demanded to conduct impartial investigations in |
| combating the menace of terrorism, be determined | | | | activities disturbing public peace in the country and to |
| to take every step firmly based on the demand of | | | | punish only those found guilty. The declaration |
| justice and keep off any discrimination based on | | | | expressed its deep concern on partiality of the |
| religion." In case any individual of any particular religion | | | | government officials and reaffirmed its determination |
| is involved then also "the whole community can not | | | | to continue its joint struggle for domination of law, |
| be held responsible for the activity of any individual | | | | justice and secular system. Finally, the declaration |
| or a group of individuals", he said. | | | | unfurled its programme of holding such conferences |
| | | | | across the country. |
| The conference was organized under the banner of | | | | |