All India Muslim Jamaat chief Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi on Wednesday stated that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill poses no threat to Muslims and will instead bring them significant benefits. He claimed that certain political groups were misleading the public by spreading unnecessary fear regarding the bill.
“I hope that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be passed in Parliament without any disruptions and problems. The opposition will definitely create a ruckus because it wants to do vote bank politics, so it will definitely create a ruckus to preserve their vote bank,” Razvi said.
Dismissing fears that the bill could harm the Muslim community, he stated, “There is no danger to Muslims from the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and other people associated with political groups are scaring Muslims, misleading them, spreading rumours, and creating misunderstandings.”
“However, I want to assure Muslims that neither their mosques nor the eidgahs, dargahs, or graveyards will be snatched away. This is only and only a rumour,” he added.
Razvi has previously raised concerns about various Muslim groups and political parties allegedly misleading the community regarding the bill. He has also accused the AIMPLB of straying from its original purpose and being influenced by political agendas.
Highlighting the benefits of the bill, Razvi said, “The income generated after the implementation of the amendments will be spent on the poor, weak, helpless, devout, and widowed Muslims. This will lead to their progress and development. Work will be done in education, and with the income from this, schools, colleges, madrasas, and mosques will be opened and maintained.”
He further elaborated on the bill’s intended purpose, stating, “The purpose of the Waqf, as envisioned by our elders, was that the income through it should be invested and spent on public welfare works. However, due to corruption, this could not happen.”
“Now, this new bill will stop corruption, ensuring the money is spent on legitimate causes. This is for the progress of Muslims, who will benefit from it. The illegal selling of Waqf board lands worth crores of rupees for personal gain will be stopped, and the income will be used for rightful purposes,” he added.
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Expressing hope for the bill’s smooth passage, Razvi added, “We hope that this bill is passed in both the Houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and that it proves to be in the interest of Muslims, becoming a milestone for the welfare of people.”
Syed Naseruddin Chishty urges Muslims to rely on facts
Apart from Razvi, Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, has also dismissed claims by some Muslim organisations that religious properties would be taken away once the Waqf (Amendment) Bill gets cleared from the House.
He has urged people not to believe such statements, adding that the bill only seeks to introduce stricter regulations to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties.
Chishty stressed that those benefiting illegally from Waqf assets are the ones spreading these false claims, as the new amendments would put an end to their interests.
Reacting to the developments on the tabling of Waqf Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, Syed Naseruddin Chishty told IANS, “This has been awaited for a long time, and now the moment has arrived. Around 12 o’clock, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be presented in Parliament. I hope there will be a meaningful discussion, leading to the passage of a well-structured bill that will address the shortcomings of the existing Waqf Act.”
Commenting on organisations opposing the bill, he said, “Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy. However, since the common citizens of the country might not have been able to fully understand the bill, they have accepted whatever their leaders are telling them.”
“I believe that one might oppose or support certain sections of a bill, but to claim that mosques or other religious properties will be taken away is completely false. I do not support such misinformation and only trust what the government has stated. Others should also rely on official statements rather than baseless rumours,” he further said.
He further emphasised that the bill’s stricter provisions are intended for the welfare of poor Muslims.
“If the laws are strict, some people get offended. This bill will implement stringent measures in favour of underprivileged Muslims. The primary purpose of Waqf has always been to ensure that its properties are used for religious and charitable purposes. Unfortunately, that has not been happening till now. Hopefully, with this new law, people will truly benefit,” he said.
