Is there evidence to suggest the Deobandi's are in the pockets of the Saudi's

When you are performing analysis you need to look at the full facts and not perform knee jerk reactions and thinking.

Naming names is not the Sunnah of Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihe Wassallam) and his method is to point out the issues rather than humiliate Muslims. Study the Ahadeeth and the error is usually pointed out by statements like “Some of you or some amongst you etc…”

Now let’s get down to business.

There are close to 50 British Deobandi Ulama (yearly) who get special Hajj/Umrah treatment and enjoy the hospitality of the Saudi Government. Some of them then vociferously push Saudi Moonsighting and inflict it upon British Muslims aggressively  while some don’t and just stay quiet. Whenever any of these Ulama condemn Saudi Moonsighting, they are removed from the list and lose their benefits. Many of these Ulama do nothing and say nothing about Moonsighting and life carries on. Saudi Embassy hosts a special function on the Saudi Independence day in London and Deobandi Ulama are also invited to this function (many don’t attend).

The same applies to Non-Deobandi Ulama, community leaders members of organisations etc.

Much more then Hajj/Umrah or Saudi Independence day celebrations, access is more important. Saudi Government does provide (financial) aid, Dawah material and importantly those who access to Saudi consulate have influence which in turn plays well with the British Government. In other words British Government realises your importance because you have access to Saudi Government so you are taken to be “representative of British Muslims”.

In order to retain access to Saudi consulate YOU HAVE TO:

1. Turn a blind eye of the errors of Saudi Moonsighting or at least trivialise it and make British Muslims realise it isn’t a problem OR at least keep quiet!
2. Turn a blind eye to every Saudi human right violation, aggression, policy OR at least keep quiet
3. Praise the Hajj/Umrah arrangements of Saudi Government and do or say NOTHING about any issues with British Hajj/Umrah visitors encounter.
4. You can be against all of the above BUT keep quiet not rock the boat and you will be fine.

Increasingly, Charity organisations in UK are raising funds and doing projects in UAE and Saudees can also influence you there so ONCE AGAIN you just need to keep quiet.

 BUT not everybody is ideologically in the pockets of Saudees. There are many Ulama who don’t oppose Saudia because they genuinely believe that opposing (Sunni) Saudia is supporting (Shia) Iran, the example of this in UK were the accidents around Haram a few years. Many Ulama spoke out in the beginning but then they either retracted their statements OR went quiet simply because they didn’t want to support Iran’s position.

Saudi Arabia has created and fermented this Shia vs Sunni dichotomy and promoted themselves as the vanguards of Sunni Islam so when it comes to certain issues (Yemen etc) Deobandees genuinely feel that by expressing views on this topic they will be weakening the Sunni position and strengthening the Shia positon. Pakistani Deobandees are prime examples of this scenario where they get emotional and animated about Muslim children dying in Afghanistan but stay silent on the same in Yemen. Pakistani Media (print, visual and social) usually has NOTHING on Yemen apart from Shia leaning or Secular operatives so the debate is easily framed in terms of Sunni vs Shia or Secular vs Religious. Saudi Arabia has poured millions into Pakistani Darul-ulooms and supported Deobandees and you WILL NEVER hear anything negative from any Maulana or Darul-uloom in Pakistan. In fact, Saudi Arabia and (Imams of Harmain) strengthen this relationship and make sure that they have a vice-like grip on public opinion.

Saudi Arabia is a major British partner and in the time of economic downturn, the British Government needs Saudi money. Therefore, by and large you will hear pretty much nothing negative from the Government perspective about Saudi Arabia.

Same is true for United States. Despite majority of “9/11 hijackers” being Saudi there is NEVER any public outcry about Saudi Arabia in America, unlike Ikhwan which is vilified in America. Listen to any public speeches of neocons in America and it is always about Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood) and never about Saudi Arabia.

This is because Saudi Arabia is a staunch partner of United States and needed to ensure that the Muslims and Islamic world is kept in check.

The role of Saudi Arabia is important for Israel and the west because Saudi Arabia (due to control of Haramain) have a strategic weapon in their hands to emotionally manipulate and exploit the Muslims.

The only Muslim community which is I slowly beginning to grasp this is South Africa. Muslims in South Africa realise that they have been blackmailed and taken advantage of in terms of Hajj/Umrah Visas and also Salafi influence. Ulama in South Africa are openly talking about and realise that they have been duped for decades.

British Muslims are not there yet and it won’t happen in Pakistan or India because there is too much money at stake. All Saudi Arabia has to do is send an Imam of Haram to India/Pakistan and public opinion will massively shift in favour of Saudi Arabia. Millions will show up to pray Marghrib behind an Imam of Haram and will cry during Salah and that will be it.

Someone like Maulana Tariq Jameel (etc) will receive the Imam at the airport and recite poetry in praise and there will be Deobandi dignitaries of Pakistan and game over. Same in India, a trip to Darul-uloom Deoband and a cup of tea will have repercussions for decades.