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)!
Adil, to your specific question: “How do you become a Maulana?” here is a specific answer, based on what I gathered from a very friendly, bearded student from Bannu, Shahid, studying in a madrassa in Islamabad.
In the system run by wafaqul-madaris in Pakistan, when you enter a madrassa, you start with the 4-year course, called ‘Oola’ or primary (not to be confused with secular primary education), regardless of your education background. Shahid told me he had done F. A. in a government school before joining the madrassa. (I assume the minimum requirement would be to able to read and write.)
After the ‘Oola’, you join another 4-year program called Allamia, which, when successfully completed, entitles you to be called Allama or Maulana. Shahid was a 4th year student in the Allamia and said he would become a Maulana next year. In other words, you can officially become an Allama or Maulana after having successfully completed 8 years of schooling in a madrassa.
After the Allamia, if you choose to, you can do a 2-3 years course called takhassas (specialization), which entitles you to be a Mufti (one who can issue fatwas).
Shahid also invited to visit his madrassa and talk to the headmaster for more information. I might do that one of these days.
Theonly time I though the title made sense was when Bhashani of the then East Pakistan was leading a movement that was aiming to bring Chinese-style communism to Pakistan. The Public dubbed him ‘Mao Laana’ …
Generally, the mullahs in Pakistan (and some from other nations that I have run into) are all certified PPMF.
@Lutf ul Islam description of clergy, self validating their own dogma, is quite correct for across all faiths. I am not an expert on any of the faiths, including mine, but from what I read and hear in conversation, if you do a search and replace, you can make it fit for any faith, religion, credo.
Irony of this post is that whereas other faiths established their clergy through their own divine validation, Qur
Usman…
you are absolutely right….please convey my most sincere apologies to the donkeys of Pakistan..i have done them a great injustice……
To Lutful Islam who says below:
“Donkey carts have alot in common with Maulanas of Pakistan.. Both are driven by asinine intellect. May God save us from them..”
Later D_a_n has endorsed aforementioned view.
I would just like to say to both of the gentlemen above – How dare they compare intellect of donkeys to that of Maulanas of Pakistan – and denigrate donkeys in this way! Donkey’s are very hardworking animals and make our lives easier in many ways!
Comparing their intellect to Maulanas is surely an insult to donkeys of the world!