The recent decision of the Kerala government to drop appointments in the Waqf Board to the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) has created an uproar among the Muslim community. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which attempted to lead the movement against the government, faced a backlash as the largest Muslim organisation, Samasta Kerala Jem-Iyatul Ulama (SKJU) took a different line.
Although the SKJU is widely considered to be supportive of IUML’s political lines, SKJU president Syed Mohd Jiffri Muthukoya Thangal rejected IUML’s proposal to use mosques for anti-government protests, angering IUML.
a separate stand
Mr. Thangal’s stand, however, brought the rival Sunni faction led by Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musaliar closer to the SKJU. Both Sunni groups, which constitute about 80% of the Muslim community in Kerala, share the same opinion that using mosques for anti-government protests will turn the homes of Allah into a battlefield. Interestingly, Mr. Thangal is now being portrayed with the highest esteem as the Sunni leader of Kerala after Shamsul Ulema EK Abubakar Musaliar, who died 25 years ago.
Angered by the SKJU’s decision against its call to use mosques for protests against the government, the IUML called a mega rally at Kozhikode beach on December 9. Thousands attend biggest rally on COVID-19 in Kerala. Despite facing criticism for ignoring other gatherings across the state, the government was quick to file cases against those who held the rally. The “personal reference” made at the rally by one of the IUML’s speakers against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law and minister Mohd Riyas brought disgrace to the IUML, despite the league’s subsequent apology.
Meanwhile, the government invited SKJU leaders for talks. Mr. Vijayan assured Samasta and its leaders that the government would not go ahead with its plan without consulting various Muslim groups. The SKJU has now asked the government to expeditiously initiate dialogue with Muslim groups.
change rules
Taking advantage of its position against the government, the SKJU has also demanded reinstatement of an important clause in the Waqf Board rules. It wants only those who uphold the traditional Islamic faith be appointed to the Waqf Board. Originally, Waqf Board rules stated that only traditional Muslims would be appointed to manage Waqf Board properties, which uphold the orthodox Islamic belief. It was at the behest of the IUML that the government changed the rules to accommodate even those who followed the reformist Islamic faith, including Wahhabis, Mujahids and Salafis.
The more conservative Sunni faction, led by Musliar, has raised many questions against reformist groups handling waqf properties. Reformists in practice do not support the Islamic tradition of setting aside a portion of the property to pray for the dead for such Islamic activities. Sunnis argue that reformist groups used their influence within the IUML to seize several important mosques, including the Mohiuddin Mosque and Pattala Mosque in Kozhikode.
The present Waqf dispute has sent an important message that SKJU and IUML are no longer synonymous. There are many scholars within the community who support the political ideology of the Congress and not the IUML. Taking the opposite stand against Samastha could be dangerous for IUML as the Left Democratic Front waits for Sunnis with an appeasement pact.
abdul.naha@thehindu.co.in
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