Samastha passes resolution against Jamaat’s theocratic ideology

The Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama has passed a resolution strongly opposing the theocratic ideology propagated by the Jamaat-e-Islami, asserting that extremist modes of religious preaching are not in line with the organisation’s path.

The resolution, adopted at the Samastha centenary conference which concluded here on Sunday, called for vigilance against pan-Islamist extremist ideologies that “seek to undermine Islam’s peaceful tradition of propagation and deviate from the path shown by revered predecessors.” It warned that emotional campaigns covertly promoting theocracy and the concept of ‘political Islam’ pose a serious challenge by attempting to alienate Muslim youth from the mainstream.

The resolution described ‘Maududist’ ideological streams as a grave threat, alleging that they misuse emotional expression and political narratives to mislead young Muslims. It also cautioned against intellectual infiltration carried out through platforms masquerading as neutral media and against agenda aimed at creating divisions within the community.

Calling for ideological resistance, Samastha urged the community to uphold the legacy of tolerance and harmony associated with Ahlussunna wal Jama’a (refers to mainstream Muslim majority who adhere to the Quran) and to actively counter divisive ideologies to preserve the community’s identity.

In a separate resolution, the conference reaffirmed that the true tradition of Ahlussuna wal Jama’a and Samastha’s ‘manhaj’ (methodology or path) rests on following one of the four school of Islamic jurisprudence in practice and adhering to either the Ash’ari or Maturidi (two main schools of Sunni Islamic theology) theological traditions in matters of belief.

‘Un-Islamic practices’

The resolution strongly criticised the tendency of some individuals to disregard the jurisprudential opinions of authoritative classical scholars and project themselves as independent interpreters to suit personal interest, terming such practices un-Islamic. It rejected the misuse of technical concepts such as Maqasida al-Sharia and Fiqh al Aqalliyat to justify what it called flawed new research approaches.

Samastha demanded that such trends be completed rejected and stressed the need to remain firmly rooted in the established Madhhab-based path laid down by the great Imams of the past.