Biographies Masquerading as Devotional Texts Defy and Defeat Critical Examination of Religious Personalities

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 16 June 2023 Hayat e Wali: Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani Ki Ilmi Aur Tahreeki Zindagi Ka Tareekhi Mutala Author: Shah Imran Hassan Publisher: Rahbar Book Service, New Delhi, India Pages: 224, Pages: Rs 200 ------ Writing biographies of Ulema and religious scholars has been a cherished dream of madrasa students, once they graduate. But these biographies are not academic in nature, but they retrograde as hagiographies. Most of these hagiographies camouflaged and passed on loosely as biographies, elevate the lives of their subjects as supernatural, divine, miraculous and magnificent in every respect. Hence, these biographies offer no critical insight in the real lives of their subjects. They seem to be too divine and out of the world, to be emulated by the readers. So, a divine aura is created around their personalities. No reader gets inspired by such people, but yes, they become blind followers, from whom no great contribution or feat is expected. The main aim of rendering people as blind followers and disciples is to render them deaf, dumb and blind. Once they have become Sumun, Bukmun and Ummyun they can be exploited by those holding any position of religious power. We regularly witness how dipsticks and knuckleheads have occupied the pulpits of mosques and have rendered Muslims, devoid of any critical thinking. Quran time and again emphasizes that Muslims should enquire, question and clarify things, even from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who was guided by God himself through revelation and was a sinless human. Thus, when the Mercy of whole Universe (Rahmat al Lil Aaalimeen) and Seal of Prophets (Khatimun Nabiyeen), is not making Muslims his disciples and blind followers, why these religious personalities demand complete obedience from their disciples? To understand this fact, we should know that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had no personal interest in rendering people dumb, instead he opened their eyes and minds towards reality. But these criminals in the form of religious scholars, have mixed their own personal interests with religion and in the process, they exploit religion. Writing biographies and hagiographies of scholars and saints is a good plan to reinforce their reverence among the minds of people, thus rendering them devoid of critical thinking. There can certainly be exceptions to this rule, but the current book under review by versatile young writer and biographer Shah Imran Hassan about Late Wali Rahmani is not an exception. It is written as a biography and published in the life time of Wali Rahmani, who was an Islamic scholar, polyglot, theologian, Sufi, and associated in the leadership position with All India Muslim Personal Law board (AIMPLB). The Introduction of the book informs the reader about the multi-dimensional personality of Rahmani. Shah Imran, believes that his biography serves an objective analysis of his life and the work he was carrying out among the Ulema needed to be known to others. This is described as the motive behind writing this book. Wali Rahmani, we come to know is inspired by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in his childhood. Maulana Azad is a very controversial figure, not because of his works, legacy and Islamic acumen, but his politics overshadows all his legacy. He opposed the partition of India, supported Congress that earned him the taunt of being ‘showboy of Congress’ by Mohammad Ali Jinnah. So, once the name of Azad is uttered it depends on the political stance of the person who is espousing him. To most Pakistani Ulema, he remains a figure of hate and for Indian Ulema, he is to be emulated, as he predicted the demise and sectarianism of Pakistan, forgetting the fact that Indian Muslims too are suffering immensely at the hands of majority. Wali Rahmani, is described as the legal heir of Khanqah e Rahmani, the hospice where an ancestor of Rahmani’s is buried. He was involved inducting disciples through Bayah (covenant of obedience, appointing his Caliphs in different parts of India and world. It is quite interesting to know that how Caliphate, that was just a camouflage for monarchy and brutal rule after the end of Prophetic and three decades of real four caliphs’ rule, still continues among Sufis. The Sufis have established a parallel system of running their alternate empires with monarchy, and titled it as spiritual caliphate. Hafiz Imtiyaz Rahmani and other students of Wali Rahmani are discussed in the book too, and the reader is not able to understand the merit of the same? Then attacks against Rahmani are discussed too. Rahmani also initiated Rahmani 30, an educational initiative in which they coach and train meritorious students for cracking civil service exams. He also intends muslims to use graveyards judiciously like growing fruit trees in them, so that they are beneficial to both the living and dead. His views are discussed too, like he does not consider 1857 as the First War of Indian Independence. Being an avid traveller, his travels in different parts of India and abroad are discussed too. A very long interview of Wali Rahmani conducted by Shah Imran also forms a major part of the book, which helps the reader to know more about his personality and clarifies his views on a number of issues. This book certainly is an addition, but lacks the critical evaluation of Wali Rahmani. It seems that this book is written by a reverent devotee of the Maulana, not a seasoned academic biographer. What in reality is his contribution, particularly through AIMPLB, that basically is an NGO or Trust, but it has hijacked the Indian Muslim issues, creating much noise than light. Although, this biography helps us understand a plethora of issues, but how did his family and hospice network help him to be presumed and imposed as a leader has not been evaluated. The lacunae that these types of works have is present in this biography too. It is hoped that in the next editions of the book, these flaws and shortcomings are rectified, so that a reader gets an informed holistic picture of the personality of Wali Rahmani. ----- M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/biographies-religious-personalities/d/130005 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism