Moderate Maulana: Wahiduddin Khan

http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/09-Dec-2003/second-opinion-our-lip-service-to-science-khaled-ahmed-s-tv-review
ARY's Dr Shahid Masood talked to the Indian Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan on 3 November 2003 on the sighting of the moon and the concept of jihad in Islam. Maulana Wahiduddin said that a calendar could be issued in advance about the Ramadan moon or any other month. He said modern scientists could make the calendar for one full year, after which there would be no quarrel over moon-sighting. He said Muslims were under obligation to do "ijtihad" (reinterpretation) even if they go wrong doing it. He said "ijma" among Islamic scholars was also possible because of good communications. He said jihad was not allowed on individual basis. Only an Islamic state could declare jihad but it had to be defensive. He said it was "haram" even for an Islamic state to do guerrilla warfare or to indulge in proxy war. Host Dr Masood said what if the enemy was too big to be confronted; wasn't guerrilla war justified in that case? Maulana Wahiduddin said Islam did not allow guerrilla war. In such a case, talks with the enemy were mandated. He said Islam did not allow "baghawat" against the ruler and the rebellion of Imam Hussain was considered by many ulema an error of "ijtihad".
Maulana Wahiduddin is an Islamic scholar of international renown who lives in India. Unlike our religious leaders, he is the author of a widely read "tafsir" of the Holy Quran. He is very frank in admitting that Islam would allow a scientific method of ascertaining the location of the moon. This is no longer permissible in Pakistan where a literalist interpretation is in vogue mandating an "ocular" determination of the appearance of moon. His proposal to end the infighting of the clerics is quite clearly scientific, but in Pakistan no one is willing to take the rational course. This is not a sign of the Muslims forsaking Islam; it is an example of how the dominance of Islam in the 21st century is pegged to literalism and irrationality. Wahiduddin's view of jihad is also no longer acceptable in Pakistan where the clerics have converted to the identity of warrior priests. Before the spread of jihad many ulema in Pakistan used to express views similar to his: that only a defensive war was permissible. It is no longer so. As for who should fight, most ulema are now convinced that everyone should go to war, but Allama Ghamidi of Lahore stands out by being the only one who says jihad has to be declared and declared formally by the Islamic state. Covert or guerrilla wars are not permissible. Wahiduddin could get hurt for saying this in Pakistan.


http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/07/03/comment/fighting-against-factories-of-hate/
Muslims have missed and are wasting the opportunities due to misinterpretation, misreading and misrepresentation. Saving Islam from mortal misinterpretations and misreading is the core of his reformist mind; misinterpretations by traditional mullahs and misreading by common Muslims. He is the most controversial and unduly-maligned Islamic scholar thanks to bigotry-driven souls of Islamic clergy. The man honoured with many awards is a ‘traitor’ in jaundiced eyes of traditionalists.
He interprets Islam in language of tolerance, peace, non-violence, progress and reconciliation that annoys thousands of commercial or jihadi mullahs who see in war their survival and the survival of their vested political agendas. In Nietzsche’s words: “Whoever lives for the sake of combating an enemy has an interest in the enemy staying alive.”
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan abandoned Jamaat-e-Isalmi in 1962 and Tabighi Jamaat in 1975 on grounds that the former was ‘treating politics as the centre of Islamic activity’ while the latter believed in arch-traditionalism and had rejected the importance of ijtihad. While going through the Maulana’s “Diary 1989-90”, I found numerous nuggets of wisdom which shed a totally different shade of light on issues confronting contemporary Muslims. In the Diary, he also shares some historical events, observations, etc, on Pakistan’s political ideology, parties, leaders and what he terms ‘faulty interpretation’ of the true message of the divine religion.
At one point the Maulana writes: “I have strong opinion about contemporary Muslim leaders: bearded or shaven. After watching their acts and reading their statements I feel that they are just exploiters. If these are the men who will enter paradise then the hell should be kept vacant as others stand far pious than these folks.”
Blame yourself: “Today’s Muslims are not facing tyranny and bigotry of others… their incapability is their real problem… they are at the receiving-end everywhere. Recently I travelled on Libyan Airlines… it is in dire straits. I was told that the reason behind the ruin was US-imposed sanctions as the airline was not getting planes and spare parts. On the other side, Saudi Airlines is in marvelous state as it enjoys US favours. Owing to military aid, Afghan mujihideen defeated Russian troops. Palestinians are unable to win such victories in their armed struggle against Israel as they are not being backed by the US. There is prosperity in Pakistan due to American aid while Bangladesh remains poor in absence of US aid.”
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Expressing concerns over traditional religious seminaries, the Maulana says: “I hold the opinion that in Arabic madrassas no education is imparted even not the education of Islam. I was educated in an Arabic school where no book on geography was part of the syllabus.”
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No-end game: He wrote in his diary on January 24, 1990: “For the last few months political unrest has engulfed Kashmir… As many as 100 organisations are active in Kashmir like Kashmir Liberation Front, Peoples League, Operation Balakot, Hizb-e-Islami, Hizbullah, Allah Tigers, Hizbul Majihideen, Zia Tigers, Zarb-e-Momin, Hizb-e-Jihad, Islamic Students League, Al-badar, Hizb-e-Momin, Al-umar Majihideen, Students Liberation Movement, Al-Karbala, Al-Khomeini, Hussaini Tigers, etc… some of them belong to Shi’a Muslims others to Sunnis… Each organisation is independent… few want independent Kashmir while others want to see Kashmir as part of Pakistan… some are secular organisations while the others believe in radical Islam… their struggle will soon turn into a failure. Perchance they succeed they will start fighting with one another.”
Prudence vs emotions: “One man who works as an engineer in Saudi Arabia came to see me. He said that there were no opportunities of making progress for Muslims in India. They are deliberately suppressed here. I asked him: “You are settled in Saudi Arabia for the last eight years. Haven’t you seen anything unpleasant to your temperament there?” He said, “Yes I observed, like American engineers get more pays, perks and respect as compared to Indians and other Muslims.” Then I asked him had he ever protested against it? He said “No, there is no room for such protests in Saudi Arabia.” I told him that the real problem with the Muslims of India was the fact that they had failed in harmonising themselves with the circumstances. They always tend to confront and fight.”
Hilarious move: “March 23 is marked as Pakistan Day. Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has announced marking the day this year with special fervour to celebrate its golden jubilee. In response, Chief Minister Punjab Nawaz Sharif has announced celebrating the day on March 20. (Nawa-i-Waqt, March 1990). The differences between two Muslim leaders have touched such limits that they are making the history their subservient. The country founded on the name of Muslim-unity seeing the day when its leaders disagree even on an established historical fact. It will be not less than a miracle if such hollow people implement Islamic system in Pakistan.”
Jugglery of words: “The supporters of Pakistan movement used to chant slogans: Pakistan ka matlab kia, la ilaha illallah. After its creation, Maulana Mawdudi said that Pakistan had been allotted to Islam. Now, Dr Israr Ahmed writes in MisaaqJuly 1990 that Pakistan is the only country in the world whose father’s name is Islam. It is nothing but jugglery of words. What a pity that Muslims have fallen prey to such juggleries for the last 100 years.”
...At another place, Maulana writes: “To make war or armed struggle a mean to propagate or implement Islam is a heresy introduced by Maulana Mawdudi.” Jeffry R Halverson in “Searching for a King: Muslim Non-violence and the Future of Islam” writes about the Maulana: “For Wahidduddin, Islam offers the world an ideology of peace. Islam, he teaches, always seeks a state of peace, because all that Islam aims to create – spiritual progress, intellectual development, character building, social reform, education and above all missionary work (dawa) – can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.”