Book Name: Hazrat Ameer-e-Shariat
Author: Maulana Ataur Rahman Qasmi (Ed.)
Pages:557
Year : 2004
Publisher: Farid Book Depot, New Delhi
www.faridexport.com
Reviewer : Mohammed Ayub Khan

Maulana Minnatullah Rehmani was arguably the tallest leader of the Muslim Personal Law movement in India. He was instrumental in forging a coalition of diverse Muslim groups and sects in combating the planned imposition of Uniform Civil Code and other encroachments on personal laws. Hazrat Ameer-e-Shariat�Naqoosh wa Tasrat is a compilation of seventy four articles on the Maulana Rehmani written by those who knew him well and edited by the prolific author and historian Maulana Ataur Rahman Qasmi of Delhi Ki Tareekhi Masajid fame.

Maulana Minatullah inherited his scholarship, piety, patriotism and sincerity from his illustrious father Maulana Muhammad Ali Mungeri. He completed his education at Hyderabad (the book doesn’t mention the name of the institution), Nadwatul Ulema and Darul Uloom Deoband. While still a student he took part in protests against the British and for a time was jailed in Saharanpur. Matching his activism with literary and historical research he penned two books on the ill effects of British colonialism on Indian economy and the educational sector. He took part in active politics and was elected to the Bihar Assembly on the ticket of Maulana Abul Mohasin Sajjad’s Muslim Independent Party. As a member of the legislature he spearheaded the movement for the implementation of Urdu in government offices and campaigned for the abolishment of the agricultural tax on Islamic endowments.

He became the Sajjada of Khankha-e-Rehmani in Munger in 1942 and set about reconstructing its facilities which have been damaged in an earthquake. Under his leadership the Khankha-Rehmani became an institution providing all round services to the community including health care, education and vocational training apart from its primary objective of offering spiritual cleansing of the seekers of the path of tassawwuf.

A true nationalist he opposed the two nation theory and dubbed those Indian Muslims who migrated to Pakistan as “mafroreen (runaways). This did not deter him from criticizing the excesses of the Congress party and he took them to task whenever he saw an injustice being committed. In the post-partition era he sought consolidation of the Indian Muslims in protecting their faith and identity through institutions and organizations like Imarat-e-Shariat, Mushawarat and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. In the changed circumstances he counseled self-reliance and advised them to shun the fear of death . Expounding on the mission of the Imarat-e-Shariat he wrote that it is an “ institution of Muslims belonging to all schools of thought and tendencies whose aim is to unite Muslims on the basis of Kalima.� Despite his strong views the Maulana always accommodated diverse sects within Islam and was widely respected among all groups. It is no wonder that the first edition of this book was released at the hands of renowned Shiah Alim Maulana Kalbe-Jawwad. The Imarat-e-Shariah’s alternative dispute resolution on Shariah laws has been widely praised for its exemplary services in the timely settling of disputes within the Muslim community.

He fought tooth and nail the forced sterilization policy of Sanjay Gandhi and other intrusions on Shariah laws like the Shah Bano case and the imposition of tax on awqaf.

Maulana Rehmani is most remembered for his fearless articulation on issues of Muslim interest like the Bangladesh war, minority character of Aligarh Muslim University and the Babri Masjid. Shahid Ram Nagri, editor of Naqib, writes that in 1990 Maulana Rehmani met the then Prime Minister Chandrashekhar to present a memorandum on the Babri Masjid dispute. When told about the attempts of extremist forces to fan the flames of communalism, the Prime Minister replied, “It seems that everyone has drunk water from a well contaminated with Bhang. Everyone seems to have turned insane.� At this outburst the Maulana replied that the government is not drunk and that it should carry out its responsibilities . Receiving this curt reply Chandrasekhar calmed down and assured the delegation that Babri Masjid structure will be preserved at all costs.

Another interesting incident relating to the Babri Masjid is narrated by Maulana Abdul Karim Parikh. He writes that Maulana Rehmani had several Jinns in his circle of bayt. Maulana Parikh once wrote him a letter asking him to settle the Babri Masjid dispute once and for all by ordering one of his disciple Jinns to climb over the masjid and give the azan so that the illegal occupiers flee and vacate the place. Instead of giving a direct reply Maulana Rehmani narrated an incident from the life of Maulana Madani who also reportedly had a large following among the Jinns. Maulana Madani served as a teacher in Sylhet for a period of time. There one Bengali alim was also a teacher who had two Jinns as his disciples. When the Alim died the two taught his sons from behind a curtain. When Maulana Madani learned of this he sought a meeting in which he urged them to join the freedom struggle to overthrow the British. The Jinns expressed surprised at this quaint proposition from the Maulana and replied, “ There will be total chaos if we Jinns begin actively participating in the affairs of the humans. Human beings should themselves continue the struggle without relying on any help from the Jinn.�

A man of action Maulana Rehmani was known for his superior organizational skills which were evident in the extensive relief he undertook whenever there were natural and man made disasters. Conscious of the importance of modern education he built regular schools, hospitals and vocational training centers as part of the vast network of the Imarat-e-Shariah. (Recently the United Nations had praised the Imarat for its active participation in the mission to eradicate polio. ) A primary school also operates in the buildings of Imarat-e-Shariat. Once when the school was closed for holidays the Maulana received a notification for a small scholarship for meritorious students who pass an exam. He immediately sent for a bright student who had gone for vacations to his native village which was at a considerable distance. The amount to fetch the student was much more than the total scholarship. When questioned about this the Maulana replied that the amount of the scholarship is meager but it is priceless when it comes to boosting the morale of the young student who may well go on to be an engineer, doctor, professional as a result if it.

The article on the Maulana’s stand against family planning by Prof.Altaf Ahmed Azmi discusses his views in considerable detail. He considered family planning to be a sign of thanklessness and lack of trust in God’s will. Noted critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqui’s article, “Hazrat Ameer-e-Shariat Ka Safar Nama� discussess the literary merits of his 1964 travelogue of Egypt where he was invited by the government. Other noteworthy articles in this collection include those of Dr.A.R.Kidwai, Prof.Nisar Ahmed Farooqui, Prof.Khalique Ahmed Nizami, Khwaja Hasan Sani Nizami, Maulana Akhlaque Hussain Qasmi, and Shahid Siddiqui.

Hazrat Ameer-e-Shariat�Naqoosh wa Tasrat offers an insight, through the prism of his contemporaries, into the life of a selfless mass leader who was also an intellectual, a scholar, a jurist and a freedom fighter. It is regrettable that one does not find a leader of the stature of Maulana Rehmani among Indian Muslims today.