Saharanpur (UP), Oct 27 Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (AM) president Maulana Arshad Madani on Tuesday said mosques being “demolished” in the country would resonate with ‘azan’ again one day.
Addressing a conference of Rabta-e-Madaris Islamia at the Darul Uloom Deoband campus in Saharanpur, he expressed concern over what he describes as growing communalism and targeting of mosques, madrassas and other religious institutions.
He alleged that Muslims, along with their religion, culture, identity and religious institutions, are being targeted.
“Those who are demolishing mosques today and dreaming of erasing the identity of Islam should understand that those in power today will not remain tomorrow. Governments come and go, but no power has been able to erase Islam in the past, nor will it be able to do so in the future,” Madani asserted.
“Mosques being demolished in the country would resonate with ‘azan’ again one day,” he said.
Around 5,000 representatives of madrassas from across the country attended the conference.
Citing the example of the erstwhile Soviet Union, Madani said attempts had been made there for a long time to suppress religious activities and symbols of Islam, but faith could not be erased from the hearts of Muslims.
He said that after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, mosques are flourishing and the call to prayer is heard in several countries that became independent from it.
Madani said it was his religious belief that once a mosque is built, its religious status does not end even if its structure is demolished.
He urged Muslims not to lose hope in the prevailing circumstances and to move forward with patience, courage and determination.
Madani also appealed to parents not to leave the responsibility of imparting religious and moral education to the new generation solely to madrassas, and to pay attention to their children’s character, faith and moral values.
He said madrassas should create effective systems not only for religious education but also for character-building and ideological training of students.
Criticising the alleged negative campaign against madrassas, Madani said these institutions had played an important role in the country’s freedom struggle, national unity and social reform.
Referring to the contribution of Darul Uloom Deoband, he said its scholars had participated in the freedom movement and made sacrifices for the country’s independence.
Madani said the history of Muslims is one of patience, sacrifice and courage.
He appealed to the community to maintain unity, strengthen religious and educational institutions, and focus on the proper upbringing and values of the younger generation.
(PTI News)
