Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, an organisation of Deobandi Sunni Muslim clerics, has opposed the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

In the conclaves of the clerics at Deoband in Saharanpur district, Jamiat adopted a resolution against the UCC, arguing that it would prevent observance of personal law by the Muslims and thus violate the guarantees for Muslim Personal Law given in the Indian Constitution.

“This ignores the true spirit of the Constitution. No Muslim accepts interference in Islamic law. If any government makes the mistake of implementing UCC, Muslims will not accept this injustice and will be forced to take all measures against it while staying within constitutional limits,” the resolution said.

The UCC will formulate personal laws which will apply to all citizens equally regardless of their religion and gender. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre and in states has promised to implement the UCC.

Apart from the resolution against the UCC, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind also passed a resolution on the ongoing mandir-masjid dispute. The organisation expressed its displeasure at igniting controversies over places of worship like Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.

At the conference, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Mahmood Asad Madani said, "Muslims had a chance to go to Pakistan but we did not go. Those who harp on Pakistan should go there themselves."

On Saturday, the Jamiat had raised the banner of ‘Islamophobia’. During an emotional address to the gathering, Madani said that Muslims had been made strangers in their own country.

The two-day meeting was attended by nearly 2,000 members and representatives of organisations from across the country and was presided over by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmod Asad Madani.

Darul Uloom Deoband Rector Niaz Ahmad Farooqi notably said, “The establishment of Sadbhawana Manch by Jamiat is in fact in harmony with the nature of India.”

During the occasion, Madani advised Muslims to avoid extremism and quick reaction, saying, “Fire cannot be extinguished by fire. Like this, the answer to sectarianism cannot be sectarianism.”

“We are going through tough times and it is okay. It needs strength and courage to bear all these difficulties and we are not weak. It is our strength that we can bear every difficulty and atrocity but will never let anything hurt our country,” Maulana Madni had said.

The Jamiat had passed three resolutions – the measures for taming the growing tide of hatred and animosity against Muslims in the country; a resolution regarding the eradication of Islamophobia; resolution over strengthening of the Sadbhawana Manch.

Madani also expressed disappointment while mentioning the “condition of India” and the “silence of the government”. He further emphasised the need to prevent the spread of hatred in the country and said “it is necessary to handle the nation with harmony”.

“The ones who spread hatred in the nation are the country’s enemies. Hatred can never be the answer to hatred. We are the ones who answer hatred with love,” Madani said, while stressing the need to safeguard the country from hate with love.

Stating that the hate mongers were taking a test of the patience of Muslims, he added, “If we start to respond in their language, they will succeed in their intentions. Our decision to stay quiet and not answer their way is not Jamiat’s weakness, but strength.”

He asserted that Muslims could compromise on anything but not their faith. “These people talk about the unity of the country and declare to create Akhand Bharat while they have made it difficult for Muslims to walk in their own country. We keep patience today, if need be, we will also accept jail and hanging but we will not do this to others,” he added.

“We are going through tough times and it is okay. It needs strength and courage to bear all these difficulties and we are not weak. It is our strength that we can bear every difficulty and atrocity but will never let anything hurt our country”, Maulana Madani had said.