The Waqf Board Bill presented in the Lok Sabha has been stuck. Now it will be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Opposition parties are raising objections to the bill, while the Center says that it will benefit only the minorities. One special thing in the bill is that instead of Waqf, a separate board will be formed for Bohra and Agakhani Muslims. This is being called Auqaf Board.
Why can a separate board be formed
On Wednesday, the Centre presented an amendment bill to change the Waqf Board Act, on which the opposition created a lot of ruckus. The Centre says that with the introduction of this bill, common Muslims, especially the underprivileged, will be able to get justice. Also, there will be transparency in the work of the Waqf Board. There are many special things in the bill, such as giving more space to women and forming an Auqaf Board for Bohras and Aga Khanis. Auqaf is synonymous with Waqf but it is taken in a broader sense.
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Aga Khanis had alleged discrimination
These Muslim communities have accused the Waqf Board of arbitrariness and property usurpation. In 2023, the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board and the Aga Khan Shia Imami Council had alleged that the Maharashtra Waqf Board wanted to forcibly take over the properties of the Aga Khani Muslim community. In fact, the Waqf Board had declared the five trusts of the Aga Khanis in Mumbai as its property. The council had sought intervention from the Center on this. The Union Minority Ministry had also taken cognizance of this complaint, but there is no information anywhere about what happened next in the matter.
While introducing the bill, Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju had said that the opposition is talking about only a few Muslims, while the Centre wants to give justice to the backward communities among Muslims by bringing the bill. This is where Bohra, Aga Khani and Ahmadiya are mentioned, for whom a separate board is being talked about so that they can have rights over their property.
Who are Bohras
The word Bohra comes from the Gujarati word Vohru, which means business. This community associated with business is spread in India in Gujarat and Mumbai as well as Madhya Pradesh, Kolkata, Rajasthan and Chennai. They can be both Shia and Sunni. Sunni Bohras follow Hanafi Islamic law, while Dawoodi Bohras are closer to Shias. Apart from India, this community is also present in Gulf countries and Pakistan, here too they are businessmen.
The outfit looks different
The Bohra community identifies itself as progressive. The men and women of the Bohra community consider themselves different from the rest of the Muslims in the country in many ways. This difference is also reflected in their attire. The traditional dress of Dawoodi Bohra women is Rida, which makes them look different from the rest of the Muslims in the country. It does not cover the woman’s face completely, but it has a small pallu, which is called Pardi. It is folded on one side so that the woman’s face is not visible much. Let us tell you that Rida can be of any color except black.
Men wear a three-part costume, which includes a kurta like an angarkha, a saaya like an overcoat and pants called ijar. Men also wear golden or white caps, which have fine embroidery on them.
Being businessmen, Bohras interact with others a lot, but personally they remain very isolated. There are still almost no outside marriages within the community. Also, other people are generally not allowed to enter Bohra mosques.
What is different about Aga Khani Muslims
Islamic or Aga Khani Muslims are settled in 35 countries of the world including India. The population of this Muslim community is around 15 million people worldwide. Aga Khani came to Sindh from Khyber province of Afghanistan about a thousand years ago and settled in India.
There is a lot of information about this on their official website The Islamic. They are the only Shia Muslims who believe in a living Imam. At present, Aga Khan is the Imam of this Muslim community. One thing that is very different about this community is that they are rarely seen offering prayers in public.
Not so much fanaticism in religious practices
Many of their religious practices are slightly different from others. For example, if there is a need, such as lack of space for namaz or on any other occasion, women can also pray with men. This community does not follow fasting strictly for the entire month. Going on Hajj is optional for Ismaili Muslims. It is completely on their wish.
Apart from these, Ahmadiya Muslims can also be given separate space in Waqf. There was a lot of controversy over this section of Muslims. Even the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board had brought a proposal to declare Ahmadiya as non-Muslim, which was stayed by the High Court.
what is the reason
Ahmadiya is a sub-category of Sunni Muslims, who consider themselves Muslims, but do not consider Mohammed Sahib to be the last prophet. They believe that their Guru i.e. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the Nabi (messenger) after Mohammed. On the other hand, the followers of Islam all over the world consider Mohammed to be the last prophet. This is what makes Ahmadiya Muslims different from others.
Difference between Pakistan and Saudi along with Ahmadiya
In Pakistan, Ahmadiya Muslims have been given the status of non-Muslims and violence against them is common. Their graveyards and mosques have been separated. Their going on Hajj is also officially banned, which has been imposed by Saudi itself. Here, there is no hatred towards Ahmadis to this extent, but discrimination is definitely visible. For example, Andhra Pradesh Waqf repeatedly declares them non-Muslims. In such a situation, the benefit of property was also getting affected. This is the reason why in the new draft, there is talk of giving them a separate place in the Waqf Board.
What is the Auqaf Board that is being mentioned?
Along with Waqf, there is a discussion of a separate Auqaf Board, in which these Muslim communities will be included. Auqaf is also an Arabic word which means donation in the name of Allah. Basically, Waqf and Auqaf are the same. It can also be understood in this way that at present there are Sunni and Shia Waqf Boards, but the Center also talked about Bohra and Agakhani Waqf.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)