Saudis are finding that even their petro-dollars can no longer buy the loyalty of some Muslims. Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama of Lucknow in India has shown rare courage by openly condemning the Saudis for declaring the Ikhwan al-Muslimoon in Egypt and Hamas in Palestine as “terrorist” organizations. Nadwa's principled stand was immediately endorsed by a number of other organizations and Muslim political parties in India.
Delhi, Crescent-online
Sunday March 16, 2014, 12:37 DST
Led by Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, a number of Muslim organisations in India have condemned the Saudi regime’s designation of the Ikhwan al-Muslimoon (Muslim Brotherhood) as a ‘terrorist’ outfit. They said on Friday (March 14) that Saudi rulers, who claim to be custodians of the two holy cities that house Masjid al-Haram (in Makkah) and Masjid-e Nabawi (in Madinah), have hurt the sentiments of Muslim all over the world by this unjust and anti-Islamic decision.
Islamic organizations and parties in India that have condemned the Saudis over their demaning stand on the Ikhwan in Egypt include: Jama‘at-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Markazi Jami‘at-e-Ulama, All India Deeni Madaris Board and a number of leading scholars. They have called upon the Saudi rulers to immediately review their decision.
JIH chief, Maulana Jalaluddin Umri said that the movement started by the Ikhwan al-Muslimoon is based on Islamic principles so banning it would hurt the feelings of Muslims all over the world.
He lauded the Ikhwan’s role in bridging the gap between different Muslim countries describing it as an international reform movement that had done immense work for the well being of people. Since the Saudis have also designated Hamas as a ‘terrorist’ organization, the Jama‘at chief said the Palestinian resistance movement is resisting Zionist crimes under very difficult conditions.
In a joint statement, Chairman of World Islamic Forum Maulana Esaa Mansuri, Fatwa Mobile Services’ Mufti Mohammad Arshad Farooqi. Madaris Board’ s chief Maulana Yaqoob Bulandshehri and Jamiat secretary Maulana Feroz Akhtar Qasmi said that Saudi rulers had committed a grave sin by declaring the Ikhwan a terrorist group. They asked King Abdullah and the leading ulama of Saudi Arabia to revoke this decision.
They warned that Muslims all over the world protest and condemn this decision of the Saudi regime. They also urged the Saudi ulama to hold the rulers to account for taking such a decision. “It is the duty of the Saudi ulama to exert pressure on the Saudi rulers in this regard as Muslims are enraged over the decision.”
Putting their finger on the issue, they pointed out that Muslims respected Saudi Arabia because it is home to Islam’s holy places. They have no love for the despotic rulers who are stooges of Western imperialism and Zionism.
This sharp slap on the face of the Saudi rulers must have come as a shock since they normally expect Muslims to toe their line because they dish out money buying people’s loyalty. With the Saudi regime’s anti-Ikhwan announcement, it seems to have gone too far and Muslims are not willing to sell their souls for a few dollars, riyals or rupees.
Interestingly, the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow took the lead in snubbing the Saudi delegation’s desire to visit the historic institution. It described the Saudi regime as more “oppressive than the Modi government of Gujarat” and the newly enacted Saudi law against the Ikhwan as more draconian than such draconian Indian laws as TADA and POTA.
Even though the two factions of the Jamiat-e Ulama-e Hind with close links to the Deoband Madrassa as well as Jamiat Ahle-Hadees have remained silent over the Ikhwan issue, the Muslim masses have been appalled by the Saudi decision. These organizations are on the payroll of the Saudis and their loyalty is bought through riyals.
The Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama has shown a remarkable degree of integrity and honesty by condemning the Saudi regime in such clear terms. More Muslim organizations should follow Nadwa’s lead and demonstrate their commitment to Islam and its pristine principles.
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