Biographies Masquerading as Devotional Texts Defy and Defeat Critical Examination of Religious Personalities
By
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam
16 June
2023
Hayat
e Wali: Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani Ki Ilmi Aur Tahreeki Zindagi Ka Tareekhi
Mutala
Author:
Shah Imran Hassan
Publisher:
Rahbar Book Service, New Delhi, India
Pages:
224, Pages: Rs 200
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Writing
biographies of Ulema and religious scholars has been a cherished dream of
madrasa students, once they graduate. But these biographies are not academic in
nature, but they retrograde as hagiographies. Most of these hagiographies
camouflaged and passed on loosely as biographies, elevate the lives of their
subjects as supernatural, divine, miraculous and magnificent in every respect.
Hence, these biographies offer no critical insight in the real lives of their
subjects. They seem to be too divine and out of the world, to be emulated by
the readers. So, a divine aura is created around their personalities. No reader
gets inspired by such people, but yes, they become blind followers, from whom
no great contribution or feat is expected. The main aim of rendering people as
blind followers and disciples is to render them deaf, dumb and blind. Once they
have become Sumun, Bukmun and Ummyun they can be exploited by those holding any
position of religious power. We regularly witness how dipsticks and
knuckleheads have occupied the pulpits of mosques and have rendered Muslims,
devoid of any critical thinking. Quran time and again emphasizes that Muslims
should enquire, question and clarify things, even from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),
who was guided by God himself through revelation and was a sinless human. Thus,
when the Mercy of whole Universe (Rahmat al Lil Aaalimeen) and Seal of
Prophets (Khatimun Nabiyeen), is not making Muslims his disciples and
blind followers, why these religious personalities demand complete obedience
from their disciples? To understand this fact, we should know that Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) had no personal interest in rendering people dumb, instead he
opened their eyes and minds towards reality. But these criminals in the form of
religious scholars, have mixed their own personal interests with religion and
in the process, they exploit religion. Writing biographies and hagiographies of
scholars and saints is a good plan to reinforce their reverence among the minds
of people, thus rendering them devoid of critical thinking.
There can
certainly be exceptions to this rule, but the current book under review by
versatile young writer and biographer Shah Imran Hassan about Late Wali Rahmani
is not an exception. It is written as a biography and published in the life
time of Wali Rahmani, who was an Islamic scholar, polyglot, theologian, Sufi,
and associated in the leadership position with All India Muslim Personal Law
board (AIMPLB). The Introduction of the book informs the reader about the
multi-dimensional personality of Rahmani. Shah Imran, believes that his
biography serves an objective analysis of his life and the work he was carrying
out among the Ulema needed to be known to others. This is described as the
motive behind writing this book.
Wali
Rahmani, we come to know is inspired by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in his
childhood. Maulana Azad is a very controversial figure, not because of his
works, legacy and Islamic acumen, but his politics overshadows all his legacy.
He opposed the partition of India, supported Congress that earned him the taunt
of being ‘showboy of Congress’ by Mohammad Ali Jinnah. So, once the name of
Azad is uttered it depends on the political stance of the person who is
espousing him. To most Pakistani Ulema, he remains a figure of hate and for
Indian Ulema, he is to be emulated, as he predicted the demise and sectarianism
of Pakistan, forgetting the fact that Indian Muslims too are suffering
immensely at the hands of majority.
Wali
Rahmani, is described as the legal heir of Khanqah e Rahmani, the hospice where
an ancestor of Rahmani’s is buried. He was involved inducting disciples through
Bayah (covenant of obedience, appointing his Caliphs in different parts of
India and world. It is quite interesting to know that how Caliphate, that was
just a camouflage for monarchy and brutal rule after the end of Prophetic and
three decades of real four caliphs’ rule, still continues among Sufis. The
Sufis have established a parallel system of running their alternate empires
with monarchy, and titled it as spiritual caliphate. Hafiz Imtiyaz Rahmani and
other students of Wali Rahmani are discussed in the book too, and the reader is
not able to understand the merit of the same? Then attacks against Rahmani are
discussed too. Rahmani also initiated Rahmani 30, an educational initiative in
which they coach and train meritorious students for cracking civil service exams.
He also intends muslims to use graveyards judiciously like growing fruit trees
in them, so that they are beneficial to both the living and dead. His views are
discussed too, like he does not consider 1857 as the First War of Indian
Independence. Being an avid traveller, his travels in different parts of India
and abroad are discussed too.
A very long
interview of Wali Rahmani conducted by Shah Imran also forms a major part of
the book, which helps the reader to know more about his personality and clarifies
his views on a number of issues. This book certainly is an addition, but lacks
the critical evaluation of Wali Rahmani. It seems that this book is written by
a reverent devotee of the Maulana, not a seasoned academic biographer. What in
reality is his contribution, particularly through AIMPLB, that basically is an
NGO or Trust, but it has hijacked the Indian Muslim issues, creating much noise
than light. Although, this biography helps us understand a plethora of issues,
but how did his family and hospice network help him to be presumed and imposed
as a leader has not been evaluated. The lacunae that these types of works have
is present in this biography too. It is hoped that in the next editions of the
book, these flaws and shortcomings are rectified, so that a reader gets an
informed holistic picture of the personality of Wali Rahmani.
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M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in
Srinagar, Kashmir
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/biographies-religious-personalities/d/130005
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