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.