Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind is the primary organisation representing scholars belonging to the school of thought prescribed by Darul Uloom at Deoband in Uttar Pradesh.

Though Deobandis are a minority among Indian Muslims – according to certain estimates, around 15-20 percent Indian Muslims identify themselves as Deobandi – they are more centralised than the more numerous Barelvis.

As a result of this relatively more centralised nature, Jamiat exercises control over the largest network of mosques in India. Compared to other Muslim organisations, Jamiat has historically enjoyed much greater clout vis-a-vis political parties and the government.

Muttahida Qaumiyat

The main concept driving Jamiat’s political ideology is that of Muttahida Qaumiyat or “composite nationalism” that was laid down by Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani in 1938 in his book Muttahida Qaumiyat Aur Islam.

The idea behind Muttahida Qaumiyat was in opposition to the belief that Hindus and Muslims constitute two different nations – which was the credo of Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s Muslim League at that time.

As per Muttahida Qaumiyat, different religions were not seen as different nationalities. Rather nationality was seen as being linked to a territory, where both Muslims and non-Muslims share the same nationality. Muslim and non-Muslim communities living in this territory could share attributes such as language, ethnicity or culture.

The Example of Madina

Husain Ahmad Madani invoked the example of Madina under Prophet Muhammad to sanctify the concept of Muttahida Qaumiyat. According to him, Muslims and Jews of Madina shared a similar sense of common nationality during the Prophet’s era under the Treaty or Constitution of Madina.

Similar to the Treaty of Madina, the Jamiat after Independence put forward the idea that Muslims and non-Muslims have entered upon a mutual contract – or Mu’ahadah – in India, since independence, to establish a secular state. The Constitution of India represents this contract and every Indian Muslim must uphold the Constitution as part of this Mu’ahadah.

The Jamiat’s belief was that Muslims have a better chance of following their practices and personal laws in Congress-ruled India than under the Muslim League’s Pakistan. Jamiat’s leaders saw the Muslim League leaders as non-observant Muslims and expected the Congress to be more tolerant of Muslim personal laws.

However, the Jamiat’s concept of Muttahida Qaumiyat did not go uncontested from within the Muslim community. Deobandi scholars like Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi and Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani both argued that Muttahida Qaumiyat as well as Husain Madani’s invocation of Madina’s example, are not backed by Islamic scriptures. Usmani later formed a breakaway faction of the Jamiat – Jamiat Ulam-e-Islam – and supported the creation of Pakistan. Husain Ahmad Madani’s ideas were also criticised by individuals like Muhammad Iqbal and Jamaat-e-Islami founder Syed Abul ala Mawdudi.