Ban ordered on Darul Uloom Deoband website, but why?

Darul Uloom Deoband, the most influential Islamic seminary in the world after Al Azhar in Egypt, is in the middle of a new controversy over publishing of online fatwas (Islamic opinion) on the wesbite. The website of the seminary has been ordered shut for the time being on orders of the Saharanpur District Magistrate, as the investigation against the content on its website continues.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had asked the Saharanpur DM to probe the statements made by the seminary on its website.

But this is hardly the first time that Darul Uloom Deoband is making news.

The last time when Saharanpur was in the news was in August 2021, when the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government had announced setting up an Anti-Terrosim Squad unit in the communally sensitive region of western UP, Deoband, to keep an eye on the terrorism activities.

This was the after-effect of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Taliban taking over power in the country. The foundation stone of the ATS unit was laid on January 2, 2022 by UP CM Yogi Adityanath. The ATS unit has 100 commandos' training facilities, with around 15 IPS officers deputed.

Now, the Darul Uloom’s website is in fresh controversy over its content on the website. While the seminary said that the fatwas were just online piece of advice given to people, the NCPCR flagged the content for violating rights of children.

Here is what you need to know about the entire controversy on the Darul Uloom Deoband website.

WHAT DID THE NCPCR SAY?

NCPCR wrote to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary on January 15, 2022, asking to investigate the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband in relation to passing online fatwas or legal opinion which the commission said were misleading and unlawful.

The commission also asked the Saharanpur DM Akhilesh Singh to probe the Islamic seminary's online fatwas which it published on the website. It alleged in its complaint that the seminary has made misleading statements while answering queries of people on the website.

The DM passed the interim order on Monday to ban the website as the inquiry continues. 

WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS?

There are several complaints made by the NCPCR in its complaint against the Deoband seminary. According to the commission, Darul Uloom’s website, while answering one of the queries, said that the adopted child in Islam does not become the legal heir of the property of his parents. The Commission called this violation of child rights, saying that the Indian constitution gives the adopted child right to his parents' property just like the biological child.

Second, the Commission registered its complaint against Deoband for advising parents to not send their daughters to co-educational schools, saying that girl students should be taught by women teachers only. The Commission said that the seminary asked parents to ask their daughters not to participate in extra-curricular programmes in school, not to wear costumes in school functions, and not even wear a tie as that is un-Islamic.

NCPCR Chief Priyank Kanoongo spoke to Economic Times and said that the Commission had given 10 days to the DM to look into the issue and get all the objectionable content removed.

WHAT DARUL ULOOM DEOBAND SAYS

Darul Uloom spokesperson Ashraf Usmani said that the disputed fatwas were just piece of advice and that it was not binding on people to follow them, Economic Times reported. He said that the advice was given only when people asked for it. Usmani added that content was removed after the DM ordered for its removal. He further said that parents were free to follow their own choice and that they followed the laws of the land.

Darul Uloom cleric Mufti Abul Kasim Nomani also said that the content has been removed from the website on the DM's order, Jagran reported.

WHAT IS A FATWA?

A fatwa is technically a legal opinion in Islamic law, practice or convention. To give a fatwa, one has to be of considerable knowledge in the Quran and Islamic laws. In India, there is Aalim, who can advise people on the understanding of certain things in the light of Islamic law. The role of Aalim is just to interprete Quranic teachings appropriately to the followers of Islam. An Aalim or Ulema (group of Aalims) cannot themselves frame a law that is binding on the people. They have to go as per the teachings in the Quran.

However, there is no clergy in Islam. The religion is entirely personal.

Darul Uloom Deoband issues online fatwas which are basically answers to the queries of the people. Questions relating to personal affairs, divorce laws, marriage, food, etc., are asked by the people; and the seminary chooses to answer or not answer these questions.

As of now, the Darool Uloom Deoband website has not been banned.