Darul Ulum Deoband—Deoband School of Thought, main center of Islamic learning in India, has strongly condemned the call through a video release given by al-Qaeda chief, Ayman al-Zawahiri. In the video the al-Qaeda head has threatened to initiate jihad in the Indian sub-continent.
Mufti Abul Qasim Naumani, rector of the institution said that, “There is no place for terrorism in Islam. Through a Fatwa, Darul Ulum has declared all terrorist activities in the name of Islam as anti-Islam.” He further added that that the problem of Indian Muslims is of their own and its solution is accepted only in the Indian framework. We cannot allow any external organisation to be concerned because of this. Indian Muslims are citizens of India, like people of any other community.
Mufti Naumani clarified that whenever communal riots take place, both communities face the lose out on something. Riots trigger momentary anger and antagoniss which recedes with the passage of time. Inter-community relations are not affected for a long time due to these incidents.
There are institutional and organisational mechanisms in India to take care of the issues pertaining to the minority community within the constitutional and legal framework. Therefore, both internal and external form of terrorism has no place in India. He categorically stated that India has India has effectively countered terrorism in the past and will do so in the future. Extremists like al-Zawahiri will face nothing but disappointment in India. Ashraf Usmani, PRO of Darul Ulum, conveyed on behalf of Mufti Naumani that the statement issued by people like al-Zawahiri is not in the interests of Indian Muslims. On the contrary, this can be detrimental to their interests. Earlier also, terrorists organisations have tried to misled the Indian Muslims but failed to do so as they are loyal to India. —Surendra Singhal
