Question:
Assalamo-Alaikum,
With due respect, What do you say about the following information:
“No country uses “Maulana” title: The mullahs have adopted for themselves the honorific title of “Maulana” (which means OUR protector, OUR lord, OUR master) – which has the most serious un-Islamic connotation of placing another WITH the Almighty (SHIRK).
The word “maulana” is a compound word – MAULA and NA (our) which, under strict Islamic philosophy is applicable to God ALONE!
The word is used only twice in the Holy Quran, and refers to Allah Subhaanahoo Wa Ta’aala, indicating that it can be referred only to Him and NO ONE ELSE!
(1) “Rabana…anta MAULANA fansoorna alal qaumil Kaafireen – Our Lord…You are our Protector/ Lord/ Master, so grant us victory over the unbelievers” (2:286).
(2) “Huwa MAULANA; wa alal Laahi fal yatawakkalil Mu’minoon – He (Allah) is our Protector/ Lord/ Master, And on Allah let the Believers rely” (9:51). ”
Answer:
Alaykum Salam,
I am not aware of anyone who is known for Islamic knowledge who ever said that the title “Mawlana” connotes shirk when used for other than Allah, or used the Qur’an to make such a claim. The Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) warned very strenuously against interpreting Qur’an according to one’s own opinion (ra’y) so we have to be very careful concerning statements about linguistic, doctrinal, or legal positions inferred from Qur’an which are unheard of.
It is well-established that when `Ali b. Abi Talib, Ja`far b. Abi Talib, and Zayd b. Haritha argued over which of them had the greatest right to raise the daughter of Hamza b. `Abd al-Muttalib, the Holy Prophet (upon him and all of them blessings and peace) addressed each of them with words of assuagement and honor which made them feel happy, at which time he said to Zayd: “You are our mawla and our brother (anta MAWLANA wa-akhuna).”
Narrated by al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Ibn Abi Shayba, al-Nasa’i, Abu Ya`la, al-Tahawi, al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqi and others.
Moreover the Holy Prophet in a mass-transmitted hadith has named himself the mawla of the believers, and has said Man kuntu mawlahu fa-`Aliyyun mawlah. After which `Umar b. al-Khattab would congratulate `Ali for becoming the Mawla, i.e. patron, of all Muslims.
Therefore whoever claims that the term Mawlana connotes shirk when used for other than Allah, has put himself in the position of imputing shirk to the Messenger of Allah and his closest Companions and he will face them on the Day of Resurrection with what he claimed.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
