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**Flirigor** · 10-21-2011, 01:41 PM

NEW DELHI: Stung by the charge that the Deoband seminary supports hardline Wahabism and is funded by petro-dollars, Darul Uloom Deoband hit back at its critics saying it did not endorse extremism.

Darul Uloom rector Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani said allegations of the Sunni Sufi organization All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) were baseless.

Speaking to TOI over phone, Nomani said, "Deobandis have no connection with Wahabis. These are lies spread against an organization that has played a stellar role in India's freedom movement." He said the AIUMB was trying to divide Muslims ahead of UP assembly elections.

Leaders of AIMUB, a prominent organization of Sunni Sufis, had claimed Wahabi-inspired outfits were feeding on frustration of Muslims and indoctrinating them in radical ideals. "All Muslims should be careful about such anti-national activities in the name of religion," AIUMB general secretary Syed Mohammed Ashraf Kachochavi said.

Rubbishing the allegations, Nomani said it was Darul Uloom that issued a fatwa against terrorism two years ago. "After the fatwa, the media's stance on bomb blasts and the Muslim community changed somewhat," he said.

He added that allegations that the Deoband seminary was indoctrinating youth in radical ideals were baseless. "I challenge anyone who makes such false charges. Officers of intelligence agencies and police keep coming here. Anybody can come and see what is going on at the seminary," he said.

Nomani slammed AIUMB for going soft on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The AIUMB president had said, "Sufi Muslims can conditionally accept Narendra Modi. If he says what happened was a mistake and will never happen again. Anybody who is ready to apologise, we will be soft on them."

Nomani said, "Who are they to forgive Modi? Ask the Gujarat riot victims... can they forgive Modi? And who will benefit from such statements?"

The rector said the Deoband seminary had never accepted funds from any government sources. "It's a false charge that we accept money from Saudi Arabia government or any other government, including India. The seminary's founder Muhammad Qasim Nanawtawi had willed that no government funds should be accepted. For the last 150 years, this has been one of our basic pillars," Nomani said, adding the seminary's accounts were audited and transparent.

Nomani said Deobandis were not anti-Sufi. "We worship only Allah. But that does not mean we are against Sufis. We have many teachers who are Sufis," he said, naming Deoband scholars like Ashraf Ali Thanwi, a Sufi saint.

10-21-2011, 01:41 PM	#2
Flirigor Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 402 Senior Member	NEW DELHI: Stung by the charge that the Deoband seminary supports hardline Wahabism and is funded by petro-dollars, Darul Uloom Deoband hit back at its critics saying it did not endorse extremism. Darul Uloom rector Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani said allegations of the Sunni Sufi organization All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) were baseless. Speaking to TOI over phone, Nomani said, "Deobandis have no connection with Wahabis. These are lies spread against an organization that has played a stellar role in India's freedom movement." He said the AIUMB was trying to divide Muslims ahead of UP assembly elections. Leaders of AIMUB, a prominent organization of Sunni Sufis, had claimed Wahabi-inspired outfits were feeding on frustration of Muslims and indoctrinating them in radical ideals. "All Muslims should be careful about such anti-national activities in the name of religion," AIUMB general secretary Syed Mohammed Ashraf Kachochavi said. Rubbishing the allegations, Nomani said it was Darul Uloom that issued a fatwa against terrorism two years ago. "After the fatwa, the media's stance on bomb blasts and the Muslim community changed somewhat," he said. He added that allegations that the Deoband seminary was indoctrinating youth in radical ideals were baseless. "I challenge anyone who makes such false charges. Officers of intelligence agencies and police keep coming here. Anybody can come and see what is going on at the seminary," he said. Nomani slammed AIUMB for going soft on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The AIUMB president had said, "Sufi Muslims can conditionally accept Narendra Modi. If he says what happened was a mistake and will never happen again. Anybody who is ready to apologise, we will be soft on them." Nomani said, "Who are they to forgive Modi? Ask the Gujarat riot victims... can they forgive Modi? And who will benefit from such statements?" The rector said the Deoband seminary had never accepted funds from any government sources. "It's a false charge that we accept money from Saudi Arabia government or any other government, including India. The seminary's founder Muhammad Qasim Nanawtawi had willed that no government funds should be accepted. For the last 150 years, this has been one of our basic pillars," Nomani said, adding the seminary's accounts were audited and transparent. Nomani said Deobandis were not anti-Sufi. "We worship only Allah. But that does not mean we are against Sufis. We have many teachers who are Sufis," he said, naming Deoband scholars like Ashraf Ali Thanwi, a Sufi saint.
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