In a move seen as a sign of reconciliation between two dominant schools of Islamic thought, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, a noted Barelvi cleric, Monday paid a surprise visit to Darul Uloom Deoband, the seminary of the Deobandi school of thought. Khan interacted with the rector of the seminary, Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani, and emphasised the need for unity to fight the “common enemy”. The meeting took place as both clerics accused the government of deliberately trying to target Muslim men and drive a wedge between community members.
“This is the time for unity. We are as Indian as anybody else and we will do everything to protect the unity and integrity of the country. At the same time, we will not allow any forces to malign and sideline this vast community,” Khan said in Deoband.
He was in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoband to meet the family of Shakir Ansari, one of the three boys arrested by the Delhi Police for their suspected ideological leaning towards banned terror outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
After visiting the family, Khan took a surprising detour to Darul Uloom Deoband. The Barelvi and Deobandi school of thoughts have had differences over theological issues which in some instances have also led to violence. Even though the clerics from both sides interact with each other, it is very rare for a person from either side to visit the other’s seminary.
