Factionalism within Samastha deepens with scholars training their guns on Darul Huda 

The factionalism within the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama led by Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal has taken a new turn with one section of scholars training their guns at Darul Huda Islamic University, one of the prominent Sunni institutions functioning under the Samastha in the State.

Darul Huda, founded as an Islamic Academy in Chemmad near Tirurangadi in the district in 1986 and later upgraded to a university in 2009, is facing criticism because of the controversial statements and comments made by some of its former students who bear the title Hudavi as a suffix to their names.

The latest attack on Darul Huda was sparked by a revelation from Samastha’s prominent Islamic preacher, Rahmatullah Qasimi, who brought to light a contentious comment made by young history scholar Mahmood Kooria Hudavi, which had gone unnoticed until now.

Dr. Kooria, who currently works at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, had made the controversial remarks during a book festival held in Kozhikode in 2019. He had said that Shariat laws were male-centric, and that they had been formed 200 years after Islam.

In a recent Ramzan speech, Mr. Qasimi accused Dr. Kooria and those sharing his views of promoting Kufr (disbelief). In another speech, Mr. Qasimi alleged that Dr. Kooria was not alone in the promotion of such “pan-Islamic faith”. “Many students of Darul Huda are delving into the ideologies of pan-Islamists like Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Akbarali,” he said.

Mr. Qasimi further criticised Dr. Kooria for his recent praise of Vakkom Mohammed Abdul Khader Moulavi, an Islamic reformist leader abhorred by the Samastha and its leaderships over the past century.

Mr. Qasimi’s criticism sparked a social media backlash against Darul Huda Islamic University and its vice chancellor Bahauddeen Muhammed Nadwi, with many users firing back in response.

A scholar disclosed that the Samastha had previously censured Darul Huda leadership over Dr. Kooria’s comments and demanded a correction. But no action was taken, and the matter was largely forgotten until Mr. Qasimi revived it.

Dr. Nadwi, on the other hand, tried to play it down saying that the criticism against Darul Huda was spurred out of jealousy.

Faced with escalating criticism, Dr. Kooria released a video message apologising for the misunderstandings caused by his remarks, which he attributed to his youthful ignorance and immaturity.

The war of words between the two factions continued. On Thursday, Mr. Qasimi faced backlash for alleged hypocrisy when his critics released a document revealing that his son had applied for admission to Darul Huda. And it prompted a furious Mr. Qasimi to confront the institution’s management.