New Delhi: Following is the full speech of the President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Syed Sadatullah Husaini while addressing a protest at Jantar Mantar on 11 October organized by the AIMPLB against the Waqf Amendment Law.
“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We praise Him and send salutations upon His noble Messenger.
Respected chair,
Scholars on this stage, community leaders, honored listeners, brothers and sisters.
Many detailed points have already been presented. I will make three brief points. First, this moment is not about a few properties or some pieces of land. This concerns an entire civilisation. It concerns a culture. It concerns the civilisation of humanity, the civilisation of brotherhood, the civilisation of generosity.
It is the civilisation of compassion, and of caring for the poor. This compassion runs in the blood of Muslims. Courtesy, kindness, and graceful conduct are universal virtues. The bravery of heroes is one thing, and this universal grace is another. The marks of this universal grace appear in every mosque, every madrasa, every graveyard, every khanqah, every orphanage, every langar. These institutions symbolise the great civilisational presence of Islam. If the government aims to end this whole civilisation, then the protection of Waqf is not merely protection of a few properties. It is protection of Islamic civilisation and its values. We must view it in that light.
Second, in contrast, the Waqf Amendment Act is a manifestation of the many injustices this government is carrying out. It represents an attack on the Constitution and an effort to erase the Constitution’s fundamental values.
From the first day the government has tried this. The Amendment Act shows this intention. It aims to remove the separation of powers that our Constitution established between the judiciary, the executive, and the legislature. This government wants to undo that separation. The Act proves their intent.
Collector Raj is what prevailed under the British. The collector became like an absolute ruler with unchecked powers. After independence our Constitution ended that Collector Raj. Now this government seeks to bring back the same collector system. An interim order has only temporarily halted that return. Likewise, the government aims to end religious and minority rights. The Act signals this intent.
Third, respected elders and friends, in the present circumstances we must run a time-sensitive campaign. We must reclaim and rebuild. We must reclaim the Waqf properties that belong to the community. We must use every available route, legal and political. We must reclaim and then rebuild them. We must make these properties effective means to realise our community’s goals.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to continue the fight against this black law. This struggle will continue on every front. It will continue in the courts. The interim order does not end the legal battle. The fight will continue in courts and in political arenas, in streets, in public opinion, and in the media.
This struggle is the duty of all Muslims across India. Let us pledge, under the leadership of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, to pursue this fight with full energy on every front. We will continue until this black law is withdrawn. Thank you.”