Jamiat Ahl-e Hadith Kaghaznagar

The Ahle Hadeeth or the Salafis, popularly but contemptuously referred to as the Wahabis, are a constituent group of Sunni Muslims.Aims and Objectives

The Ahle Hadeeth or the Salafis, popularly but contemptuously referred to as the Wahabis, are a constituent group of Sunni Muslims. They adhere to the pristine teachings of Islam as enshrined in the Holy Quran and Sunnah (the precepts, practices and approvals of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and reject what has not been enjoined by the Islamic Shariah. The Ahle Hadeeths or the Salafis believe in pristine Monotheism (Tauheed Khalis), turn to Allah seeking His Mercy and don’t invoke Saint’s blessings. They do not stick to any of the Sectarian Jurisprudence (fiqh).although they are given due respect. Since they adhere to the pristine teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah, they have their distinct identity among Muslims.

The Salafis interpret Quranic Verses with an anthropomorphic reference literally;
They elucidate the message of Islam to all mankind and clarify the truth of pure Islamic monotheism (Towheed) according to the Quran and Sunnah;
They propagate and publicise the Islamic principles, values, culture and ideas to all mankind according to the accepted path of righteous Salaf;
They oppose polytheism, innovations in religious matters, (bid‘at) blind imitations and reject many practices prevalent among the mystics (Sufiyas) of this day as un-Islamic accretions.
They teach the principles of mutual benevolence, unity, peace, brotherhood, love of the country and respect of human values rejecting the causes of conflict and disunity;
They believe in Ijtihad and not Taqleed. However, the four Imams are given due respect;
They do not believe forced conversion as the Holy Qura’n has declared: “There is no coercion (in the matter of) religion;”
They condemn terrorists and terrorism as Islam is the religion of peace.


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Ahle Hadeeths exist with the existence of Islam. In every part of the world wherever is Muslim population. They exist in India from time Muslims came to the country. In India their estimated population is about 25-30 millions. Markazi Jamiat AhleHadeeth is their representative organisation founded in December, 1906. It has 21 branches at state levels, more than 200 branches at district levels and forty thousand at local levels. It has thousands of its followers all over the country who are playing a great role in the development of the country. Their representation in education, industries, agriculture, politics and defence has been recognized and appreciated.

Since its inception it has been serving Islam and Muslims. No any religious and social organisation of Muslim Community existed prior to this Jamaat in India.

Among those who were Ahle Hadeeths in India were Muhammad Bin Tughluq (1325-1351), Maulana Shams-al-Din ibn al Haweri, Mualan ‘Alam al Din (grandson of Sheikh Baha al-Din Zakariyya of Multan), Shah Wali Allah (1702-1763), Maulana Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlavi, Shah Muhammad Ismail Shaheed, Maulana Walayat Ali Azeem Abadi, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898), Nawab Muhammad Siddiq Hasan Khan (1832-1890), Shiekh Abdul Haqq Muhaddis of Benaras, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958) (Freedom fighter and first Education Minister of India) etc.

There is circumstantial evidence of Balban (1266-1287) and Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316) as they were Ahle Hadeeth too.

Abdul Haleem Sharar, Maulana Altaf Husain Hali (great poet), Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, (Editor Zamindar), Maulana Abdul Majeed Hariri (former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia), and Maulana Abdul Wahab Arvi were some prominent Ahle Hadeeths.

Ahle Hadeeth or Salafis were in the forefront to fight the British rule. Maulana Abdullah martyrdom of Andaman and Maualana Walayat Ali Sadiqpuri (Azeem Abad) were great freedom fighters from the Salafi ideological lineage. “The Wahabi (Salafi) movement gave a number of towering personalities to the nation. Shah Ismail, Syed Ahmad, Wilayat Ali, Inayat Ali, Mian Syed Nazir Hussain, Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan of Bhopal, Sir Syed, Mualana Sanaullah Amritsari and Abul Kalam Azad. This galaxy forms the brightest chapter of our freedom struggle. The first commander of the patriot warriors of the pioneer movement was the great Wahabi (Ahle Hadeeth) leader Shah Ismail Shaheed and when the movement reached its point of culmination, it was again a great Wahabi (Ahle Hadeeth) leader (Abul Kalam Azad) who negotiated the transfer of power with the British.” (The Salafis, P.204-205, A.Q.Naqvi, Al Kitab Int. New Delhi, 2001). The freedom fighter from Jamate Ahle Hadeeth like Maulana Abdul Qayyum Rahmani is still alive.

SERVICES

Jamiate Ahle Hadeeth Hind is of course the oldest Muslim Jamiat (Organisation in India. From 1906 to 1947 (41 years) this organisation contributed a lot to regain the intellectual and cultural identity of the Ummah and fought for the principles of humanity and brotherhood rejecting the causes of conflict and disunity among the Muslims. Maulana Sanaullah Amratsari was the sole leader of the same. Almost all religious circles of India hailed the Maulana’s endeavours in this regard.

The Jamiat has seen a lot of transformation in the last six years. The Jamiat is on its way to becoming one of the best organisation in providing highly developed organization, INSHALLAH!. This development is determined by honesty, integrity, and commitment. We value our members the most and strive hard to maintain the high standard of office discipline that we have set for ourselves.

Jamiat has also been in the news by organising the Jamate Ahle Hadeeth Conference at Pakorh, in Jharkhand in 2004. Then there are a host of prestigious projects initiated that make Ahle Hadeeths one of the most talked about milli activities in the media and religious circles of India.

These endeavours of Jamiat Ahle Hadeeth are a clear indication of the accelerated growth on different fronts.

As parts of its efforts to raise the quality of education to level that meets the needs of society in the new era, Jamiat has in recent years introduced a variety of projects to upgrade the quality of Islamic training and education as well as educational programme for teachers, instructors, Dawah workers, Muftis and Islamic jurists, Al-Mahad Al-‘Alee has been established in Okhla, New Delhi with new syllabus.

The central aim of Al-M‘ahad is to provide a quality education for all its students based on their particular needs, ages, abilities and aptitudes and that its graduates will be bilingual in Arabic and English. When the Al-Mahad was founded, it took over the existing building of Ahle Hadeethe Complex, which were completely modernized and refurbished and now form the premises of Ahle Hadeeth Complex, Okhla New Delhi. With a 3 story Jama Masjid hostels, guest rooms, reading room, library and office. The Al-Mahad, at present, cannot accommodate all pupils who apply for admission, as its intake is restricted owing to financial constraint on hostel, food, electricity and other scholarships.

Al – present, the Muslim parents are struggling hard to find a judicious balance between secular education and Islamic studies for its young ones. They are striving to give their children the best education in Science and Social studies as well as impart instruction in Islamic Faith. Keeping its cultural and social moorings intact. They also want their children to be educated in an Islamic environment.

For this purpose the Jamiat has prepared a new syllabus for Madarsas and English medium schools covering all secular subjects from primary to standard 5th. The same has been printed and published by Maktaba Tarjuman, Delhi under the auspices of Jamiate Ahle Hadeeth, Hind. The necessary books according to stated syllabus are being prepared by a panel of educationists. Ahle Hadeeth Madarsas have been alerted to include modern subjects in their syllabus along with Islamic subjects.

The present situation makes it incumbent on Muslims to present the message of Islam through all available means, i.e. mass media, Islamic books, folders, and strengthen relations with different communities and cultures in order to dispel doubts and misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims.
In this regard Jamiat has offered 550 Holy Quran in English to India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., New Delhi for each and every room of Ashoka Hotel and 1600 Holy Quran for hotels under its possession all over India. A long awaited book, “History of Jamate Ahle Hadeeth (comprising of 731 pages) written by Dr. Bahauddin has been published.

THE PUBLICATION SERVICES OF JAMIAT AHLE HADEETH, HIND

Jamiat Ahle Hadeeth, Hind is predominantly a da’wa and reformation movement which is struggling to wipe out the non-Islamic concepts and tradition that have crept into the Aqeeda of the Muslim community and replace it with the pure Islamic monotheism and culture. It has been playing an active role in correcting the Aqeeda of the believers for more than one and half century. Publication is one of the crucial means for an ideological organization to spread its ideas. Therefore the Jamiat had set up publication department since from the very beginning. It has contributed in Urdu language precious books on Islamic beliefs, history, ibaadat, comparative studies on different madhahib (Islamic schools of thoughts) in Islam and other issues related to Muslims and Islam in general. Beside Urdu, it has been publishing books in English, Arabic and Hindi as well. Due to pressing demand of Islamic books, the last five years saw a stupendous increase in the publication of books on the part of the Jamiat and some of them are research works which are significant for reference purposes. Many important books were also translated and published in Urdu, English and Hindi languages. Here is a bird-eye view of some of the publications that Markazi Jamiat has revived.