By Abdul Bari Masoud, MM News,
Deoband: In a bid to refurbish the image of Saudi monarch King Abdullah, the Saudi government has started sending its emissaries to different parts of the world. In this connection, Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul-Aziz Al ash-Sheikh has paid a visit to the oldest seat of Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband on Sunday where he met the Darul Uloom Mohtamim and other Ulema. While addressing the students and teachers of Darul Uloom, the visiting Saudi Minister has maintained that the Saudi government has been working for bringing the ‘glory’ of Islam. Describing Darul Uloom as a ‘citadel’ of Islam, Sheikh Saleh said it is the policy and mission of the Saudi government to make visit to those madaris which have been engaged in imparting Islamic teachings. He said he did not come here to make a bridge between Darul uloom and the Saudi government but to see the contribution and activities of the Darul Uloom in propagation of Islam in the sub-continent. ‘Darul Uloom Deoband is one of the important and the biggest Islamic Institutes in Asia, which has been rendering its services towards the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah’.
Saudi ambassador to India Saud bin Al-Saati said in his speech that Darul Uloom has made contribution in every sphere of life and its impact is visible in many parts of theworld.
Welcoming the Saudi delegation, Darul Uloom Mohtamim Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani sang the praises of King Abdullah for his ‘contribution’ to the propagation of Islam. Interestingly, he also made clarification about the so-called Deoband ‘maslak’ saying it is based on moderate thoughts and did not espouse ‘radical interpretation’ of Islam. He also the praised Maulana Arshad Madni to the skies for inviting the Saudi Minister to Deoband who heads one of the factions of the Jamiat-e- Ulama Hind.
The 10-member Saudi delegation led by Minister Sheikh Saleh arrived here in the morning from New Delhi by a helicopter. During the day-long stay, the delegation met Ulema and visited the different faculties of the Darul Uloom. Last year, a five member delegation of Darul Uloom Deoband headed by Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, Mohtamim of Darul Uloom had paid a visit to Riyadh on the invitation of Royal Saudi Family. The Saudi delegation’s visit has been dubbed as a reciprocal visit. However, the sources said that the Saudi government is desperate to win back the support of Indian Muslims who are angry with the Saudi King for backing the military junta in Egypt and to contain the growing influence of Iran.
Mideast political analysts are of the opinion that Saudi King is trying to hold his image of ‘protector’ of Islam in the eyes of Muslim world as it was taken a severe beating after he blindly supported the coup d’état in Egypt last year that overthrew the first democratically elected government led by President Mohammad Morsi. The Saudi move had enraged the majority of Muslims all over world as it extended all financial and moral supports to General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who played key role in overthrowing the Morsi government. It said the Saudi royal rulers feared that the Egyptian Islamic model under the Muslim Brotherhood may become a rallying point in Arab world.
The Saudi government is also sending Imam and Khateeb of Masjid An-Nabawi, Medina Munawwarah Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin Al-Qasim to India. He will be a part of Azmat-e-Sahaba conference being organized by the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind faction led by Arshad Madni on 28 February in Guwhati, Assam. He will also attend a seminar on Maulana Abdul Hamid Rehmani’s life and his contribution to be held in Delhi on February 28 and March1.
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