As Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), one of the most prominent social-religious organisations of Indian Muslims, is completing 75 years of its formation, YouTube channel Al-Balagh carried an interview of JIH media secretary Syed Tanveer Ahmed on various aspects of the organisation. India Tomorrow is reproducing the discussion in a text format.
Question: Why has JIH remained intact in the last 75 years while many other Muslim organisations have split?
Answer: It is pretty natural to have a difference of opinion in a collective struggle, and in the Islamic movement, it is always welcome. Beliefs are not negotiable as we don’t have differences on that, but it is absolutely normal if there is a difference of opinion in making strategy, programs, and the ways of its execution.
JIH is one such organization in the subcontinent that considers differences of opinion a positive thing. It does not discourage or condemn that. Despite differences, JIH remained intact due to two factors. One, all the activities and main objectives of Jamaat are Quran-centred. Allah says you will be united if you are tied to His rope. If you make Quran your axis and centre in your individual or collective life, you will remain united despite the difference of opinion.
Secondly, the credit for a united JIH goes to its organizational system. Jamaat is a movement, and it has a body/organization to run that movement. This organization has its own SOP (standard operating procedures). JIH puts SOP in place without diluting it.
The cadre of JIH is disciplined and accountable. JIH’s cadre has liberties, and its setup is quite democratic. This is a positive thing that helps Jamaat in being united.
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Question: Could you tell us why differences exist in other Muslim religious organisations?
Answer: It is improper for me to comment on other Deeni Jamaats and their reported divisions/differences.
I can tell about what kept JIH united. The policy and programme of JIH are Quran centred, and through Quran, it is God-centred.
At an individual level, the most significant objective JIH assigns to its cadre is a very noble purpose, i.e. Raza-e-Ilahi (All acts for the sake of God).
JIH cadre’s objective is not worldly. That helps develop this understanding that one has to make collective efforts despite differences. Thanks to this understanding, the JIH cadre has excellent interpersonal skills.
JIH teaches its cadre obedience to the leader (Ameer) at every level in the same spirit as mentioned in the holy Quran.
Question: Jamaat’s priorities as it completes 75 years of its existence?
Answer: There is no change of priorities in the objectives of JIH.
JIH reviews both every four years and changes priorities in programme and policy. Many variables and factors cause and shape the shift in priorities.
JIH wants the betterment of this country and its citizen. Moreover, it wants the protection of the Muslim community of India (as it is vulnerable). JIH keeps these things in mind while deciding policy and making programmes accordingly.
Question: What is the contribution of JIH to the nation and society?
Answer: The most significant contribution of JIH to humanity is that it attracts to and attracts back to the desired axis and centre of life. JIH made the concept of religion holistic. It goes back to the colonial era when Islam was restricted and reduced to a set of rituals, some beliefs and dogmas.
JIH’s contribution is that it changed this concept and said Islam covers the entire gamut of life and all actions. A few decades back this view of Islam brought up by JIH was seen with cynicism.
This was one of the reasons for disagreement with JIH, as it said that politics, too, is a part of Islam. Now the situation has changed. Religious scholars, speakers of any school of thought, or educated individuals, Muslims now say Islam guides us in all spheres of life.
Question: What are other contributions of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind?
Answer: Ours is a multireligious and multicultural country. Due to some teachings of the dominant religion of our country, people were divided into castes and sections, which is the case even today. So, there was a lack of the concept of the unity of humankind. JIH ended this lack of vision and promoted the idea that the entire humanity is the creature of one God, and all should come under his worship through words and deeds. Whenever JIH initiates any service, it does not discriminate based on caste or community. This is the genuine concept of humanity, and JIH has held this concept since the beginning.
Question: In its campaigns, JIH says Islam is for all. What do you mean by it?
Answer: A misunderstanding was created somehow among Muslims that their Deen (religion) is only for them. Quran and Rasool (Prophet Mohammad PBUH) were only for them. But JIH campaigned among educated people at a mass level. So much so that those who used to oppose JIH on this issue are now themselves doing this.
They used to oppose the distribution of the Quran among non-Muslims, but Alhamdulillah, they are doing this happily.
Similar is the case with Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Campaigns like ‘Prophet for All’ and ‘Mohammad for All’ are launched today. This is quite a remarkable contribution of JIH. JIH has empowered people intellectually.
Question: What about hero worship in religious?
Answer: To follow a Prophet and hero-worshipping is not the same. There is a clear distinction between the two.
There was a hero-worship culture at the time of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), but here, the hero does not ask people to worship him. Instead, this hero (Prophet Mohammad, PBUH) calls you towards one such Entity to whom all of us are bound to return.
Our society’s problem is that people go so deep into worshipping that the hero is incarnated into God, which is wrong. We are still not up to the mark in our efforts to tell the people how great Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was as an ideal and leader.
JIH takes this matter seriously and tries to inform the people as much as possible. This requires more discussion. The group that indulges in hero worship should be interacted with, and their spiritual urge should be addressed. It is a natural urge of the human being to connect with a spiritual personality and get inspiration. We must connect people with such an urge with Allah’s last Prophet (PBUH). Definitely, we are left behind in this effort. We need to work on it. If we do it correctly, more and more people will be attracted to the personality of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Question: Can Islam be an alternative to solve our problems?
Answer: Maulana Jalaluddin Umari and Maulana Sadrauddin Islahi saheb said that it was our responsibility at the time of framing the Indian constitution that we should put Islam as an alternative. It was probably done, but that was not enough. Alhamdulillah, JIH thinks about this, and whenever there is an opportunity, we try to put Islamic teaching as an alternative.
For example, JIH suggested many election reforms. But, of course, in our thinking, political alternative dominates, but JIH is not only for putting choice in politics but in other spheres of life also.
And it is not just presenting alternatives but providing Islamic solutions. For this, JIH launches campaigns and publishes books. JIH puts its views on how to minimize or end poverty and how to deal with the economic crisis and unethical business practices. We are working in the education sector with a holistic approach. Similarly, we are also working toward women’s empowerment. JIH has created enormous literature for providing solutions.
Question: What after democracy?
Answer: JIH works in this society and world and wishes to address the macro-level issues. As far as the question of ‘after democracy what?’ is concerned, let me tell you that it is a deeper issue.
This relates to the post-modern era. In this era, the behaviour of youths has changed. Their taste and preferences, their vocabulary, have changed. But, overall, their lifestyle has changed.
Ameer-e-Jamaat Syed Sadatullah Husaini has written extensively in the JIH’s official magazine – Zindagi-e-Nav. The readers should follow the editorials of this magazine. Then it could be known what solutions JIH is providing in this crisis. It is not just a question of democracy; it is a deeper issue. This issue relates to the spiritual disconnect between Gen X and humanity.
In today’s philosophical discourse metaphysical world is not given any importance. Even in our life, the metaphysical world holds no significance. That is the reason that people are getting self-centred.
This self-centred individual’s morality worsens, causing disorder in every aspect of life. The same applies to politics and the economy too. JIH wants to address the root cause. It wants
to connect them with the spiritual world and train them spiritually. It also wants to correct the inner self and make people God-centred.
If democracy becomes God-centred, then this democracy would be beneficial to humanity, and there would be enough prosperity, In sha Allah.
Question: What is your comment on the problem of atheism and the so-called ex-Muslims?
Answer: We discuss problems of communal tension and fascist attitudes in India. No doubt, those are big problems, but an even bigger problem is the spread of atheism.
This is not very explicit, but it has made its way everywhere, and youths are affected by it.
Muslim youths are also affected to a worrying extent. The phenomenon of ex-Muslim groups on the internet is around us. This is because atheism is promoted at an ideological level in the post-modern world.
We need to counter atheism at a level from ideological to cultural to economic level. We need to do a practical module for this purpose. JIH is training the youths in this regard to counter atheism and absurdism.
Question: What about Islamic literature in English and different Indian languages?
Answer: JIH has prepared its literature in regional and local languages, translating many books into English. It is in JIH priority. This process is continuing. Editorials of Ameer-e-Jamaat are being translated into English.
We need to introduce the literature to the youth. We are lacking in it. We can do podcasting and make audio files using the internet. We need to be innovative in this regard.
Question: How has JIH impacted the people?
Answer: In one domain, JIH has affected the masses. It has influenced it massively. JIH has introduced an inclusive method that the masses have accepted.
The concept of interest-free banking was made popular by JIH. You may see the number of interest-free financial institutions increasing. It has roots in the JIH concept. A significant population has adopted this methodology.
The number of cadres of JIH is increasing, but the ratio does not match. But apart from quantity, we are focused on quality. We are not for head-counting.
JIH is established for the good of the common masses. It believes in the unity of humanity. It empowers people intellectually. People should come to JIH, and JIH will do the same. It is the betterment of the individual, society and humanity.
