''Composite Nationalism and Islam'', titled ''Muttahida Qaumiyat Aur Islam'' ( ur, ) is a book written in 1938 by
Husain Ahmad Madani
Hussain Ahmad Madani (6 October 1879 – 5 December 1957) was an Indian Islamic scholar, serving as the principal of Darul Uloom Deoband. He was among the first recipients of the civilian honour of Padma Bhushan in 1954. , the
Dean of
Darul Uloom Deoband
The Darul Uloom Deoband is an Islamic seminary (darul uloom) in India at which the Sunni Deobandi Islamic movement began. It is located in Deoband, a town in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh. The seminary was established by Muhammad Qasim ...
, espousing
composite nationalism—a united India for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
The book
opposed the partition of India and in it Madani advocated for "the ideal of a 'composite nationalism' within an united India, which he thought would be more conducive to the spread and prosperity of his community over the entire subcontinent than any religious partition."
The book was translated into English in 2005 by the
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.
The idea of composite nationalism was and remains influential among the Muslims living in India, with the majority of them staying in independent India despite the partition, rather than migrating to the areas that separated to become Pakistan.
Arguments
Asgar Ali summarized a key point of ''Muttahida Qaumiyat Aur Islam'':
''Composite Nationalism and Islam'' put forth the idea that different religions do not constitute different nationalities.
Rather, "Nationality is co-terminus with territory and both believers and non-believers in Islam can share the same territory and hence the same nationality.
Nations, the book argued, are formed on the basis of "a common motherland, language, ethnicity or colour, which brings together Muslims and non-Muslims sharing one or more of these attributes in common."
The proposition for a
partition of India
The Partition of British India in 1947 was the Partition (politics), change of political borders and the division of other assets that accompanied the dissolution of the British Raj in South Asia and the creation of two independent dominions: ...
, therefore, did not have any religious justification, but was "purely political."
The text emphasized that those who wished to partition India were among the secular elite, rather than religious leaders.
''Composite Nationalism and Islam'' opines that the reason the separatists wished to create a new state is because they "were aspiring for power and hence wanted their exclusive domain".
''Composite Nationalism and Islam'' therefore urged its readers to join the
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
, as its aims were in accordance with Islamic teaching.
It implored Muslims not to join the pro-separatist All India Muslim League, which it called hypocritical.
The book emphasized that keeping India united would allow Muslims to illumine non-Muslims with what they saw as the true faith.
Influence
The ideas presented in ''Composite Nationalism and Islam'' were upheld by the Deobandi
Ulema
In Islam, the ''ulama'' (; ar, علماء ', singular ', "scholar", literally "the learned ones", also spelled ''ulema''; feminine: ''alimah'' ingularand ''aalimath'' lural are the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious ...
, whose "priority was an independent India where they could practice Islam without fear or hindrance."
Madani traveled across British India spreading the idea of composite nationalism, which opposed the concept of a partition of India.
While he was doing this, members of the pro-separatist Muslim League tried to intimidate Madani and disturb his rallies.
The idea of composite nationalism was nevertheless influential among the Muslims living in British India, with the majority of them staying in India after the partition, rather than migrating to the areas that separated to become Pakistan.
See also
*
Madani–Iqbal debate
The Madani–Iqbal debate was a debate between Islamic scholars of 20th century British India, Hussain Ahmed Madani and Muhammad Iqbal, on the question of nationalism in the late 1930s. Madani’s position throughout the debate was to insist on th ...
*
All India Azad Muslim Conference
*
Hindu–Muslim unity
Hindu–Muslim unity is a religiopolitical concept in the Indian subcontinent which stresses members of the two largest faith groups there, Hindus and Muslims, working together for
the common good. The concept was championed by various persons, s ...
References
External links
{{Nastaliq, متحدہ قومیت اور اسلام ''Composite Nationalism and Islam''
1930s in British India
1938 non-fiction books
1938 in India
Indian non-fiction books
Islam in India
Literature of Indian independence movement
Deobandi literature
20th-century Indian books
Indian religious texts
Books by Hussain Ahmad Madani