Dawn (Pakistan)

Karachi: One hundred fifteen Ulema — 85 from East Pakistan and 35 from West Pakistan - issued a Fatwa on Thursday that “at the present juncture there is no greater evil and danger for Pakistan than socialism”. They, therefore, called upon every Muslim “to wage Jehad against this menace according to his own capacity and power”. The Ulema held that the parties upholding Socialism and Communism were “in fact engaged in revolt against the Quran and Islam, and whether such people recite Kalima or offer prayers or keep fast but they are not at all Muslims”. Accordingly they gave the Fatwa that ‘to cooperate with such people, to vote for them, to support them financially or render any assistance to them is like assisting Kufr, and absolutely “Haram”.

The Ulema regretted that the Islam-loving forces were scattered and due to their group differences they were not able to forge a united front against anti-Islamic forces. They pointed out there was another group of parties who do not subscribe to Islamic principles, although they do not clearly deny them. This element, they said, “wants the supremacy of nationalistic secular order in Pakistan and is against the ideology of Pakistan in preference to common nationhood with local Hindus to the exclusion of Muslims who have migrated to that region”. “They sing the song of Hindu poets, glorify Hindu literature and uphold Hindu culture”.

The Fatwa, accordingly, said that “to help them is to demolish Pakistan. It is not permissible, rather it is sinful to give them votes”. The Ulema have criticised those political parties which verbally proclaim to uphold the Islamic order but are working in collaboration with the Socialistic elements as to provide conscious or unconscious encouragement to the Socialist forces in the country. They, therefore, held that “to render assistance to them will benefit Socialist elements, and to give financial support or votes to them is just like giving votes directly to the Socialists”.

The Ulema appealed to the Islam-loving parties to forge a united front against anti-Islamic forces and thus, protect Pakistan and ensure glory of Islam. They urged that Islam-loving persons should not permit their votes to be divided. They said: “Differences among various schools of thought among the Muslims in juridical and other matters must not be allowed to injure the common cause and all of them must make a common cause in electing those who want to work for Islamic Constitution and law and the establishment of Islamic order”.

This according to the Ulema, was essential as on the one hand they may eradicate the evils wrought by the capitalistic system such as interest, gambling, unlawful hoarding, exploitation and aggrandizement of all sorts etc. and on the other, help establish a balance economy in the country.

The signatories to the Fatwa include Maulana Zafar Ahmad Usmani, Mufti Mohammad Shafi, Maulana Mohammad Idris Kandhalvi, Sayed Mohammad Dehlavi, Allama Ibne Hasan Jarchvi, Maulana Mohammad Yusuf Calcuttawale, Syed Badshah Gul Bokhari, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hazanvi, Maulana Mohammad Ubaidullah, Mufti Din Mohammad, Pirji Abdul Wahab (Pirji Huzoor), Hafiz Mommmaddullah (Hafizji Huzoor), Maulana Azizul Haq Mohaddis, Maulana Muntakhibul Haq, Maulana Abdul Jabbar, Maulana Matin Khatib, Maulana Athar Ali, Mufti Mohammad Husain Naeermi, Mujtahid Jafar Husain and Sayed Mustafa Madni.