Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, has welcomed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and expressed his backing for it, stressing that the bill will greatly benefit the Muslim community by improving their socio-economic conditions.
He appreciated the bill's passage in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, thanking the Modi government for passing it.
Support for the Bill
Sharing his reaction on the spot, Maulana Shahabuddin explained that the Waqf Amendment Bill is not adversely affecting common Muslims but protecting their interests. "The only ones hit by this bill are the ones who have illegally taken over Waqf properties. Common Muslims don't have anything to worry about; instead, they will gain from it," he stated.
He also emphasized that the bill intends to safeguard the rights of poor Muslims by ensuring Waqf land is used for their well-being.
Socio-Economic Benefits
Clarifying the importance of the bill, the Maulana added that funds gathered from Waqf land would go towards enhancing the lives of poor Muslims, especially those finding it hard to provide quality education for their children.
"Waqf land funds will be used to help poor Muslim families, giving their children better educational opportunities and helping widows and orphans in their development and progress," he said.
He guaranteed that these funds would be utilized in accordance with Waqf's purpose, enabling the construction of schools, colleges, madrasas, and orphanages to raise the educational and social status of the Muslim community.
Addressing Concerns
Debunking concerns over religious institutions, Maulana Shahabuddin clarified that the Waqf Amendment Bill in no way threatens mosques, madrasas, Eidgahs, shrines, or cemeteries. He assured the public that the government would not tinker with the latter.
He also warned against disinformation about the bill, and he urged Muslims to be watchful about political leaders trying to play games on public opinion for their own ends.
"Some politicians are exploiting this issue for their own gain, misleading Muslims in the process. I call on the community to remain informed and not be influenced by their tactics," he cautioned.
Passage of the Bill
In a major legislative action, the Rajya Sabha cleared the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the wee hours of Friday, with 128 members supporting it and 95 voting against it. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after almost 12 hours of heated debate.
Making a comparison with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Maulana Shahabuddin remembered how misinformation had created unwarranted fear among Muslims when the law was enacted.
"When the CAA was enacted, Muslims were misled to think that their citizenship would be taken away. But after its enforcement, it was clear that not a single Muslim lost their citizenship. Instead, many were given Indian citizenship under the law," he explained.
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