Mawlana Husayn Ahmad Madani and Jami'yat 'Ulama'-i Hind, 1920-1957: Status of Islam and Muslims in Indi

Historians dealing with the issues of the partition of India have paid little attention to an examination of the role of 'ulama' (i.e. the traditional Muslim scholars-theologians) class in South Asian politics. 'Ulama' 's political activities from 1920 to 1947 have been studied as a backdrop of the All India Muslim League and the Indian National Congress--generally recognized and written about as the authorized parties representing Muslim and Indians' interests in India.;A large number of 'ulama' did not endorse or share Muslim League's policies specially with regard to the do qawmi nazriyah (two-nation theory), the status of Islam and Muslims in India.;This thesis deals with Mawlana Husayn Ahmad Madani, his rise in Muslim politics and his contribution as a spokesman for Jami'yat 'Ulama'-i Hind. The first chapter describes Madani's training as an 'alim (a scholar of Islamic legal and religious studies), his exposure to the problems faced by Muslim ummah during his stay in Madinah for over a decade as a teacher of Islamic subjects, his internment in Malta for acting against British interests in Hijaz and his introduction to Mawlana Mahmud Hasan's nationalist movement in India. The second chapter focuses on Madani's anti-British tirade and his contribution in Muslim politics as an Indian nationalist. The third chapter deals with Madani's consolidation of his views on mutahaddah qawmiyat (co-existence of Muslims and Hindus as two communities) and do qawmi nazriyah. The fourth chapter provides the varying viewpoints and thoughts on the status of Islam and Muslims in India as found in the writings and speeches of Mawlanas Abul Kalam Azad, Ashraf Ali Thanawi, Shabbir Ahmad 'Usmani, Muhammad Shafi', Zafar Ahmad Thanawi, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal and Abul A'la Mawdudi. The fifth chapter describes Madani and Jami'yat's role in Indian politics and Muslim League's political tactics and ideology. The sixth chapter deals with the aftermath of the partition of Indian subcontinent and Madani and Jami'yat's role in safeguarding the Muslim interests in India.