Patna
Maulana Ahmed Wali Faisal Rahmani, an Information Technology professional who has studied in the USA, has been elected as the eighth Amir (Chairman) of the powerful Imarat-e-Sharia, a prominent Islamic organization headquartered in Patna, on Sunday.
It’s for the first time in the history of this 100-year old organization that elections were held. Till now, the Amir of Imarat-e-Sharia would be elected unopposed and unanimously. The election had to be held due to the death of its leader Moulana Wali Rehmani and father of the new incumbent in February.
In a hotly contested election, Maulana Faisal Rahmani secured 347 votes against his only rival Maulana Anis Qasmi who got 197 votes.
There were many turns in the run-up to the election of this important Muslim organization with two candidates withdrawing their names just before the voting started. Its key leaders had tried hard on unanimity on one candidate, as was the practice in the past.
Maulana Faisal Rehmani is educated in the California University, USA and Egypt’s Al Azhar University. He also taught in the USA and worked as an IT professional with top US companies.
He is the son of the former Amir of this powerful organization Maulana Wali Rahmani, who passed away on 3 April. Wali Rehmani was a well-known Islamic scholar while his son has received a secular education and has not gone to a Madrasa.
The elections were held after a lot of squabbling and rivalries among various groups and the decision of holding the election for the Chairmanship of Imarat-e-Shariah was taken on 30 September.
Rehmani’s election has evoked strong reactions from many Muslims on social media; those opposed to him question his credentials to head as an Islamic organization as he has never gone to a Madrasa.
After losing, Mufti Muhammad Javed Qasmi has called Rehmani’s election the “worst decision of history and said, “the Amir of Sharia is a person who is ignorant of Sharia; less knowledgeable and ignorant people will become leaders - it is symptomatic of our times.”
Another person, Asif Anzar Abdul Razzaq Siddiqui writes on Facebook, “his is the darkest chapter in the history of the Emirate.”
Another FM user Nihal Shafiq, said, “it is a matter of regret that a person who has not studied in a madrasa, who has no other honour than being someone’s son, will now rule the Shariat. A non-scholar will now take Shariat decisions, wow!”
Maulana Rehmani is an IT professional having taught in the US and also held positions in companies such as Oracle, Adobe, Pacific Gas, British Petroleum and Disney, etc.
After a long stay in America, he returned to his native Munger district of Bihar to take upon his responsibilities as Sajjadanashin (The heir apparent) of the Rehmani Dargah, a hereditary position.
He is proficient in both religious and secular education with a good command of Arabic and English. Faisal Rahmani was earlier crowned the fifth Sajjadanshi of the Rahmani Dargah.
Imarat-e-Sharia is present in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odhisha and is considered a powerful organization of the Indian Muslims.
Soon after his election, Maulana Rehmani said he would continue to work in the field of health and education and carry on the rich traditions of the institution in the service of the country.
The election was held amidst heavy police security.
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