Adil Najam
The media is full of “Maulana” Sufi Mohammed and “Maulana” Fazlullah.
All the television news channels are falling over themselves inserting the “Maulana” honorific not only to these two, but to everyone in their coterie.
Makes me wonder, how do you become a “Maulana“?
I mean this as serious question. Is there a process? A certification agency? An exam of some sort? A public process? The coming together of popular sentiment? What? And, how?
We as a society take honorifics seriously. As we should. Visiting Pakistan, I still get unnerved being called “Professor Sahib” and “Daktor Saab.” (Even more so since I suspect that people think that the later is somehow more important than the former!)
I understand that honorifics are an important cultural recognition. I also realize that sometimes they are simply terms of endearment bestowed by one’s fans or supporters. But they can also be publicity stunts for attaining false public credence. In the case of Aamir Liaquat Hussain (Alim OnLine) and his fake degrees, we also know that the repeated use of fake titles can, in fact, sway public opinion.
I had always assumed that there was a sense of intellectual contribution, maybe even piety, being attributed by the title of “Maulana.” I think many Pakistanis still assume so. Yet, it does not seem that many who have adorned with the title recently can make a claim to either.
My honest question merely wishes to figure out how these religious titles are being bestowed today. I assume that for such a title, there must be some criteria or process. Or is it self-proclaimed or based on looks alone? If so, is it now OK to call all the cabin crew on PIA whose facial hair is being targetted as “Maulana”?
I wonder if by throwing the title of “Maulana” on everyone, our media is actually diluting the value of the title? Demeaning the achievements of those who actually deserve it? Most importantly are they not giving “Islam a bad name” to the world at large by turning every gun-totting bearded guy like Fazlullah into a “Maulana”!
(Interestingly, till the writing of this, Wikipedia - which must never be fully trusted – calls Fazlullah a “Maulana” but Sufi Mohammad is not one in the headline, although he is in the text. Yet another reason not to take Wikipedia seriously)!
My understanding is that the term Mullah (perhaps pejoratively) refers to someone who frequently delivers religious sermons in religious gatherings (Mosques etc.). If mosques are state-built and maintained then I would presume that there is or can be some mechanism put in place to judge the credentials for a person to become Molvi/Mullah. If however, the mosque is privately built, I don’t think that the State legislates academic qualifications.
My flimsy understanding of Arabic, perhaps incorrectly, leads me to think that Maulana means “Our Maulvi”, which is why I prefer saying Mullah or Maulvi or Molvi Sahib.
In my opinion, a Mullah is someone with some knowledge to deliver a sermon, and is thus supposed to be a somewhat learned prayer-leader (Imam). A mullah is not necessarily an Alim or a scholar.
1. Alim (Allama) is a scholar (religious or otherwise), and in the matters of religion a scholar of religion. So, Professor John Esposito is an Alim or an Allama as was Sir Allama Iqbal. I don
I agree with Yarjami’s post with one exception. Maulana means ” our master” not ” my master”. It also means our protector from Jahilia (ignorance). This is a big title. Govt must make some criteria. As a professional Engineer (PE) or Doctor (Dr.) we must have a minimum qualification to use thes titles. As far as I know no one agency exists that awards this title. Being around some Maulanas, I have noticed a vague criteria being applied for such a title. This is just my observation. I am not sure whether it has some validity or authencity to support it. Remember this is simply my observation. In order to become a Maulana, one must start growing a beard approximately 4 inches in length. If people around him do not recognize ( i.e.his knowledge, his piety, and his leadership) with 4 inches of beard and/or do not call him Maulana by this time, he continues to grow it until people recognize him and call him a “Maulana”. Later on he becomes “Maulana Sahib”- means much more established Maulana. One more thing here to add: one must memorize some verses from the Holy Quran without knowing the meanings, and be able to quote some Hadith as well. All without knowing the meanings or understanding. When some asks a question, he touches his long beard, and smiles simultaneously, and then he recites those verses or blurps out Hadith. Then he says Allah and His Rasul knows the best. This is common standard for most of Maulanas. I hope this will help. Keep up the good work Mr. Adil Najam.
Incidentally, the people of Swat do not call Fazlullah a Maulana. Because of his FM station and his frequent sermons and speeches on it, they call him, in Pushto, Moolah Raidoo, which in Urdu will be Mullah Radio.
Regardless of his qualification to be called a “Maulana”, I believe Fazlullah was associated with a madrassa at Chingai in Swat that was bombed in 2006 by Americans .
Fazlullah
Another excellent post and discussion.
I think part of the main point is being lost in discussion.
If we start calling everyone, including criminals like Fazlullah and the killers who used to control Lal Masjid “Maulanas” then not only do they gain public acceptance and credibility but the outside world becomes justified in thinking that it is they who really represent Islam and what they are doing is about Islam. So, all this talk about Islam being peaceful etc. becomes difficult since to the outsider it is we ourselves who are giving the mantle of religion to these thugs and then letting them define our religion for us.
This is a truly serious issue.
This is a very valid question if asked just to know the facts. Hera I would like to explain few words that will make the readers understand the meanings of thease words.
Mulana:- Arabic word means “my master”
Allama”- Arabic word mean ” man with full of knowledge” superlative degree of Aalim
Sufi:- Arabic word means clean man “the man who has isolated himself from the wordly affairs and keeps himself busy in remembrence of Allah Almighty.
Imam:- Arabic word means “in front” a man who leeds is known as Imam Remember it is not exclusive for a person who leads prayer but any body who is leading any movement school of thought can be called Imam
Now comming over the in practice meaning of these words anybody who is keeping beared is known as mulana or sufi and anybody who has made one or two good speaches in public is Allama.
In real learned ranks and files of religiously motivated people if somebody has not attaind the greatest level of knowledge if he is called Allama that is taken as disgrase. No real aalim Allama sufi or Imam calls himself by these names nither he allows anyone to call him like that.It is not the problem of learned people but this relates to those who do not desrve but want to be respected like them.
Who knows , Mr Adil Najam, by virtue of writing this , may have himself attained the ‘Maulana’ status.
Thanks PMA. Your post was very informative.
Dishing out of titles is perhaps part of our upbringing – I often wondered where were the competitions held that gave out titles such as the “Melody Queen”, “Queen and/or King of Music,” “King/Queen of emotions,” etc. and lately the title of “Shaheed.” These are local feel-good phenomenon not not much more…