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)!
Don’t forget the context in which this term was basically coined and later on used both in Persian and Urdu languages. There is no concept of “maulana” or “maulvi” in Arabic and they instead use term “sheikh” or “a’lim” for those who are called maulanas popularly in our society. There are serious connotations attached with this term and we cannot simply ignore this. It was used for every learned persons such as Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Maulana Bhashani etc.; the people who were indeed not typical “maulvi” in conventional terms. Later on , like very other term, this term is also misused and abused. Take the example of Allama, Mufti, Wali, Sufi etc. Also recall that there used to be a board and university level exam to become “maulvi” and they called it “Maulvi Fazil”. I think this exam is now practically gone after the introduction of Madarsa wafaq concepts and these wafaq are now issuing degrees though none with the title of “maulvi fazil”.
If I may be so bold as to suggest that as the things are changing in the modern era, the definition of Maulana should be ammended a bit and the restriction of a fully grown shabby beard should be removed and people like Imran Khan, Ijazul Haq, Hameed Gul should also be called Maulana.
As Allah Wasaya Said…
I remember when I was growing up in 80s punjab, anyone with a beard used to be refered to as
In Arabic “Maulana” means my master, it is indeed a honorific title as asserted by the original poster. Usually a mullah who has attained a basic level of religious education and leads prayers is called Maulana in our society.
Its sometimes thrown haphazardly at the people who are of some religious significance although they may not have completed formal religious education e.g. “Maulana” Maududi.
To paste this prefix with known thugs and murderers is in my view strange if not outrightly appalling.
@ Lutful Islam..
‘Donkey carts have alot in common with Maulanas of Pakistan.. Both are driven by asinine intellect. May God save us from them..’
I could not…for the life of me have put it ever so well….Bravo Sir!