The oldest and largest socio-religious organization of Indian Muslims • Founded in 1919. National President: Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani (Ex MP/RS). Founded in 1919, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is the largest and most influential organization of Indian Muslims, with a glorious history of courage and self-sacrifice. It has played a focal role in the social and political life of the country and the Musl
im minority. Its members participated in the freedom struggle from British colonialism with relentless fervour and championed the cause of united nationalism between Muslims and non-Muslims. It is actively involved in securing the religious and social rights of Indian Muslims through peaceful and democratic means. Currently the organization has more than ten million members and 1,700 branch offices covering the entire length and breadth of the country. Though formally established in 1919, the chain of events leading to the inception of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind goes back several centuries, all the way back to the life and times of the great eighteenth-century social reformer Shah Waliullah of Delhi. This illustrious Islamic scholar and thinker was witness to the gradual decline of the Mughal Empire, fuelled by the rampant corruption of its later rulers. His disappointment at the degeneration of the ruling classes, coupled with the depredations of European imperialism, found expression in a desire to remodel all aspects of Muslim life—including its religious, social, political and cultural dimensions—through the espousal of ijtihad (independent reasoning) and the rejection of taqlid (unquestioning acceptance). From 1808 to 1915, many ulama inspired by Waliullah’s ideology took up arms against the oppressive British rule. A particularly daunting moment arrived in the aftermath of the Great Revolt of 1857 when ulama were made to bear the brunt of British retribution in light of their revolutionary past. This was evident from the fact that, of the 200,000 Indians martyred in the rebellion, more than 50,000 were ulama. The first half of the twentieth century witnessed a paradigm shift in strategy on the part of the revolutionary ulama. In particular, they were forced them to reform and reorganize their freedom struggle in 1916 after the failure of the Silk Letter Movement. In November 1919, the ulama, under the aegis of Shaykh al-Hind, resolved to constitute a new organization called Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind for spearheading the non-violent struggle in line with the mainstream nationalist movement. It was this strategy that eventually led to the freedom of the country. Post-1947, the Jamiat reinvented itself by abandoning active politics. Once its political goal of independence was achieved, it chose to devote its energies to safeguarding the religious and social rights of the minority community. In free India, Muslims have to suffer from many challenges. The Jamiat transformed itself into an organization that would be at the helm in dealing with these issues. Besides educational, social and welfare activities, it currently works in multifarious fields, including relief and rehabilitation work for victims of communal violence and natural disasters. The promotion of religious tolerance constitutes a central tenet of its philosophy. In their view, Muslims and non-Muslims are equal citizens of this country and have entered a mutual contract to establish a secular state. The constitution of India represents this contract. Hence, it is the duty of every Indian Muslim to express loyalty to the constitution.
