Ulama Mashayekh oppose Linkon’s proposed appointment as state minister
Making MP Shamim Kaisar Lincoln, who follows the La-Madhhabi doctrine, state minister for religious affairs would go against the expectations of the country’s ulema and the general Muslim population, said the Ulema Mashayekh Bangladesh at a press briefing. Maulana Muhiuddin Rabbani, secretary general of the International Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat Bangladesh, made the remarks in a written statement at the briefing organised by the Sammilito Ulema Mashayekh Bangladesh.
He said the reported plan to appoint Lincoln as state minister for the Ministry of Religious Affairs was completely contrary to the expectations of the country’s ulema and the general tawhidi Muslim population. According to him, Lincoln’s religious ideology conflicts with that of the majority Muslim population of Bangladesh. He also alleged that Lincoln opposes pir-mashayekh, the activities of Tabligh Jamaat and the four madhhabs. Lincoln follows the La-Madhhabi doctrine, while the majority of Muslims in Bangladesh have followed the Hanafi madhhab since the country’s birth. Therefore, the ulema cannot accept him for the post under any circumstances, Rabbani said.
The speakers said the Ministry of Religious Affairs is a highly sensitive and specialised sector. Instead of appointing an experienced person directly involved with Islamic culture and education and trusted by the country’s ulema, the reported proposal to appoint Lincoln has caused deep dissatisfaction and disappointment among them. They said appointing an experienced person who shares the country’s religious culture and traditions would help protect the dignity of the ulema and ensure appropriate decisions on important religious matters affecting the public.
They strongly demanded that the government immediately reconsider the proposal to appoint Lincoln, whom they described as representing a minority group, over millions of people who uphold Bangladesh’s centuries-old religious traditions. They also called for appointing a qualified, experienced and acceptable person to the post after consulting senior ulema.
Allama Muhiuddin Rabbani made the remarks at a press briefing held today at the auditorium of Jamia Islamia Makhzanul Ulum at Khilgaon Chourasta in the capital. The briefing was organised by Sammilito Ulema Mashayekh Bangladesh to protest the reported plan to appoint La-Madhhabi MP Shamim Kaisar Lincoln as state minister for religious affairs. The speakers also said the government was well aware of the immense contribution made by the country’s ulema in bringing the current government to power in the last election. Therefore, ignoring the views and expectations of the ulema in such a sensitive matter and appointing Lincoln, whom they described as opposed to the madhhab system, would be suicidal for the government.
They said their demand was not politically motivated but aimed at protecting religious dignity and safeguarding the interests of Qawmi ulema. If the government rejected the demand, it would create distance between the government and the country’s ulema. They noted that the government has repeatedly described itself as friendly toward Islam, while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman maintains good relations with senior religious scholar Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari.
In this situation, they warned that rejecting the ulema’s demand could create a rift in the existing relationship of mutual trust, which would be difficult to repair. Therefore, they said, it would be in the government’s interest to appoint a state minister for religious affairs in consultation with the ulema.
