The true meaning of MAULANA

 No country uses “Maulana” title: The mullahs have adopted for themselves the honorific title of “Maulana” (which means OUR protector, OUR lord, OUR master) – which has the most serious un-Islamic connotation of placing another WITH the Almighty (SHIRK).

The word “maulana” is a compound word – MAULA and NA (our) which, under strict Islamic philosophy is applicable to God ALONE!

The word is used only twice in the Holy Quran, and refers to Allah Subhaanahoo Wa Ta’aala, indicating that it can be referred only to Him and NO ONE ELSE!
(1) “Rabana…anta MAULANA fansoorna alal qaumil Kaafireen – Our Lord…You are our Protector/ Lord/ Master, so grant us victory over the unbelievers” (2:286).
(2) “Huwa MAULANA; wa alal Laahi fal yatawakkalil Mu’minoon – He (Allah) is our Protector/ Lord/ Master, And on Allah let the Believers rely” (9:51).

The argument is supported by the facts that:
* in no other country in the world this honorific title is used;
* in West Asia the title used is SHAIKH (head) and USTAAD (teacher);
* in Iran the word used is IMAM (Leader), or MULLAH;
*the Bohra Muslim sect head is called SAYYADINA (our leader);
* in Central Asia countries the word used is MULLAH;
* the word “maulana” is in usage only among the Urdu-speaking Muslims of the sub-continent;
*until the birth of maulanaism, the words used among the Urdu-speakers also were MULLAH (fully equipped) or MAULAWI (belonging to God);
* the dictionaries of the 19th century do not have this word “maulana”, and it is found only in modern dictionaries indicating that it is of recent origin;
*noted religious authorities of the past also carry the word MULLAH, MAULAWI or SHAIKH. But “maulana” is not seen except in the case of Rumi, who is called “Maulana-e-Room”. But he is a SUFI and SUFISM is rejected by the “maulanas” and Sufis have their own peculiar hierarchy and standard of honorifics (e.g. QUTUB, ABDAAL, etc.) which are not only NOT recognised by the “maulanas”, but their beliefs and practices are condemned.

Therefore Rumi’s honorific cannot come to their defence. Mischief of the Hindu Press: Noted scholars even of the recent past like Abul Kalaam Azaad, Shibli Nu’maani, Ashraf Ali Thanwi, Abdul Haqq, have not been referred to as “maulanas”, but as Maulawis by Allamah Abdullah Yusuf Ali, translator/ commentator of the Holy Quran as late as in 1934. But the same Maulawis are recently redesignated by the present-day “maulanas”. This un-Islamic term appears to have been popularised by the Hindu Press by projecting Maulawi Abul Kalaam Azaad as “maulana” Azzad, with the dual purpose of making him a leader of Muslims and also to sell the word “maulana” among the masses! The Indian Muslim priests gets hugely pleased on being called a “maulana”.

He does not call himself a “maulana”, but waits until others (“maulana” and non “maulana”) call him a “maulana”. Thus there is a chorus and orchestration of “maulana” – all of whom because “proctectors” of the Ummah – and which boosts the egos of the “maulanas” sky-high! Quran and Hadith : Allah Ta’aala knew that one day these intellectual pygmies will try and arrogate to themselves His designation of “maulana”, that is why He made it absolutely clear that : “WA’TISIMOO BILLHI HUWA MAULAAKUM, FANI’MALMAULAWANI’MAN NASEER: Hold on (solidly) to Allah, He is your Protector, excellent the Protector and excellent the Helper” (22:78).
 

Article reproduced by kind permission of Al-Balaagh, South Africa.