Word will be spread through Friday namaz
Pune: City-based ulemas (Islamic scholars) will now give a new direction to the wakf (charitable Muslim properties) in the country. A large number of ulemas, who had gathered for the ulema wakf training initiative under the aegis of the Concern for People Charitable Trust in Camp on Sunday, will now include wakf as a part of juma namaz (Friday congregational prayer) sermons in Pune for the first time.
The decision comes in the wake of vociferous protests and huge demands being made by the Muslim community to liberate wakfs from the clutches of corrupt trustees, mutawalli (caretaker) and agents and establish non-corrupt bodies to take over these trusts. The message is likely to reach to lakhs of Muslims across the state Through Friday namaz.
Maulana Razin Ashraf, a leading and influential cleric, said, “The objective is to acquire back encroached wakf properties through legal fight and to create a sense of responsibility among the Muslim populace about the crucial importance of wakf. Ulemas have a very good following among the population and have always played a key role in different religious movements so far. Hence, their expertise will now be utilised to generate mass awareness about the value of wakf for the community.”
Saleem Mulla, president, Maharashtra Wakf Liberation and Protection Task Force, one of the leading voices on wakf liberation, said, “The Rs 1,000-cr wakf land, which has been grabbed in Kondhwa, will revolutionise the life of Pune Muslims once it comes back in possession of the community. The property has the potential to pay fees of all the Pune Muslim students from KG to PG and even PhDs. Educational expenses of the entire Muslim students from all streams, colleges, universities etc will be taken care of from this property alone and Muslims will stop worrying about investing in education. Besides, numerous socio-economic programmes will be started from the funds of this wakf land. We are taking guidance of MLA Imtiaz Jaleel in the matter.”
