New Delhi: A visit by the secretary general of the Muslim World League and Saudi Arabia’s former minister for justice, Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, has reopened a debate on whether the Modi government is trying to revamp the image of its administration from one that is being increasingly identified with the persecution of Muslims.
Al-Issa, who is viewed as an advocate of “moderate Islam”, arrived in the national capital on July 10 for a five-day visit.
The visit focused on interfaith relations, Islamic values, the need for communal harmony, and focusing on common interests which included separating Islam from the narrative of extremism and hatred.
He met top officials including President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, minority affairs minister Smriti Irani and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, and called upon leading religious leaders and Muslim scholars.
While the cultural-religious visit focused on deepening cooperation between the Muslim World League and India and its Muslims, critics say that the visit was more of a political exercise meant to benefit both Saudi Arabia and India.
Pleased with the extensive and fruitful meetings with the erudite scholars of India, and their brothers in citizenship; the Hindu religious leaders.
Many of the meetings brought together the diverse segments of Indian society, in an atmosphere of love and understanding.
The… pic.twitter.com/Xh6Peiueql— Mohammed Al-Issa محمد العيسى (@MhmdAlissa) July 19, 2023
Al-Issa described his meeting with Modi on July 11 as an “insightful discussion” on a variety of issues.
“This included ways to further human-centric development and the importance of promoting understanding and harmony among the followers of faith and culture. I appreciate His Excellency’s passionate perspective towards inclusive growth,” he wrote on Twitter.
“There was also agreement on the importance of working together on confronting all aspects of extremism and hatred, regardless of their source and reason, as peace and prosperity in our diverse world can only be achieved with aware and comprehensive citizenship.”
After meeting Modi, Al-Issa delivered a lecture with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the India Islamic Centre in New Delhi, where top Muslim leaders and scholars were invited.
“The need of the hour (is) to establish communications between cultures. Diversity promotes good relationships between cultures. Unity in diversity is the way forward. Tolerance needs to become a part of our lives,” Al-Issa said in his lecture, a copy of which has been accessed by The Wire.
Al-Issa said that the Muslim World League has alliances with different cultures of the world and praised India’s secular constitution despite being a Hindu majority nation.
“I have many friends in the Hindu community. We wish to strengthen understanding between faiths. India, despite being a Hindu majority nation, has a secular constitution.”
“I deeply respect Sadhguru and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. We have many common values with many Hindu leaders and we respect differences. We know the Muslim component is an important component. Indian Muslims are proud of being Indians. Religion can become a role for cooperation.”
Both Al-Issa and Doval highlighted the importance of unity in diversity and the patriotic character of Indian Muslims.
“India continues to play its role as a refuge for heterodox ideas with infinite capacity to absorb dissent. No religion is under threat,” Doval was quoted as saying by ANI.
“India is an inspiration to the rest of the world for being open to dialogue. Our partnership with India is a message to the whole world. This alliance of civilisations is a message of harmony to the whole world,” Al-Issa added.
Later, Al-Issa also visited the Akshardham Temple in the capital and delivered a khutbah (sermon) at the Jama Masjid – the first by a religious leader from outside the country in 400 years, where he once again reiterated that Islam stands against all forms of extremism and violence.
Al-Issa visiting the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. Photo: Twitter/@MhmdAlissa, July 20, 2023.
“Positive message to Indian Muslims and the world”
Religious leaders who attended the event at the India Islamic Centre told The Wire that Al-Issa’s visit and messaging were a “positive” initiative not just for Indian Muslims but for the international community.
Syed Naseruddin Chishty, chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council and successor to the spiritual head of the Ajmer Dargah said that Al-Issa’s visit has sent out a message to the international community.
“This visit has been a very positive development. That a leader of such an important, reputed organisation has visited India is not just a message for Indians but also to the international community,” he said to The Wire.
“Especially in light of the fake propaganda that is being spread by some people about discrimination against Indian Muslims and the law and order situation in India – that Muslims don’t have the freedom to practice their own religion and Indian Muslims are facing persecution – Those who have been spreading this fake propaganda have been given a harsh answer.”
“The visit has proven that there is no discrimination and Muslims have all freedoms including political and religious.”
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Credit: PTI
“Al-Issa said Islam only preaches love and peace and harmony. This message will resonate with the Indian Muslims. If we have to protect future generations, we have to go forward with both Al-Issa and Doval’s message of brotherhood and unity.”
Haji Syed Salman Chishty, chairman, Chishty Foundation, and Gaddi-Nashin (Hereditary Custodians/Key Holders), Dargah Ajmer Sharif, said that the historical and spiritual relations between India and Saudi Arabia have been enriched by the visit.
“For quite some time there were only bilateral relations. But with this visit by Sheikh Al-Issa – right from Jama Masjid to Akshardham Temple to all the other places that he went to – the message is very clear that we have to evolve, engage and rise above division and differences,” he said to The Wire.
“The message is not only between two countries but is a global message. Him reinstating the message of abiding by the Indian Constitution reaffirms the message to work together to build the nation as our Constitution gives faith to all religions to amplify the noble message of all religions.”
The religious leaders said that the visit, though timed close to general elections next year, is only a coincidence.
“Yes, elections are around the corner but it has nothing to do with Al-Issa. He is coming with a message that is unifying and is a global message and it is just a coincidence that elections are coming. There was no political messaging. The focus was on nation building and overcoming extremists and radicalisation and Islamic spiritual values of inclusiveness,” said Salman Chishty.
“[There are only] isolated incidents of those who are indulging in hate speech. India is a large country. We cannot say that this is happening everywhere and in every street and every corner. NSA Doval’s message was also very clear about unity in diversity. Incidents of hate speech, in the name of nationalism or in the name of targeting any religion, must be dealt with strictly within the provisions of the constitution.”
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Naseruddin Chishty also said that those who are viewing this visit as an election strategy are showing their “negative” thoughts.
“Those who think that this has anything to do with elections have narrow and negative thoughts. If the Indian government has done this it’s a good thing. The message should go out that Indian Muslims love India and are proud of being Indians,” he said.
Evolving domestic and foreign policies at play
Observers said that the visit needs to be examined in the context of the evolving domestic and foreign policies of both India and Saudi Arabia.
A scholar who has worked closely on the region said that in the last sixty-odd years, the Muslim World League (MWL) has been the principal organisation for the promotion of the Saudi brand of Islam, referred to as Wahhabism – a rigid, narrow and doctrinaire expression of Islam.
Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. Photo: Flickr/U.S. Department of State. Public domain.
“This has undergone a change in the last four-five years when the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has been projecting his country as a modern and moderate kingdom,” he said.
“The earlier rigid approach and the present moderate approach are both aimed at asserting the political interests of the kingdom: when earlier, with its affiliation with Wahhabism, the kingdom was asserting its leadership of the Muslim world. Now, Saudi Arabia is anxious to project itself as a modern nation that would be an attractive business partner for foreign companies and an attractive tourist destination.
“This is a political gambit and has very little to do with faith. This was a PR effort made by the crown prince to project a new image of Islam and Saudi Arabia to different countries and enhance the image of the crown prince as the leader of his modern and dynamic country.”
An expert who has spent nearly two decades in Saudi Arabia and has closely followed the politics of the Muslim world who did not wish to be named said that the role of the MWL is similar to the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India.
“One can understand it the same way as the RSS in India, which sets its agenda in the name of religion and presents PM Modi as Hindu Hriday Samrat,” he said.
“Similarly, the agenda of the MWL is run in the name of ‘Liberal Islam’. Although they have taken many reformist steps recently, especially in favour of women, there are many human rights issues, where one can hardly differentiate between the Sangh’s narrow mindset and theirs.”
“As far as the Indian Muslims are concerned, hardly any common Muslim expects anything from people like Al-Issa or from the Arab world. As holy as Saudi Arabia is considered to be by Muslims, the politics of the country is just as unholy as the politics in our own country,” he added.
Converging interests
According to a former diplomat who did not wish to be named, the visit also reflects Saudi’s interests in India, which is a major buyer of crude oil from the kingdom.
“In addition, the largest Indian community of Indian passport holders anywhere in the world is also in Saudi Arabia. India is also a major trade and investment partner. What we are seeing right now is the attempt to enhance and consolidate relations with India on bases that resonate well with the interests of the Modi government,” the former diplomat said.
“One of the things which matters to the Modi government with regard to these engagements with these Muslim countries is to burnish its image at home about the mistreatment of minorities, particularly Muslims.
“By engaging with Saudi Arabia and getting some of its people to praise India, the Modi government is able to pander to its own constituency.”
While Modi has faced criticism during his recent trips to the US and France for his handling of minority rights in the country, such criticism has not shown any bearing on diplomatic relations.
Trucks carrying such banners urging US President Joe Biden to question Modi were spotted on the streets of the New York City on Wednesday.
“Neither are any of the western countries concerned about the state of democracy in India nor are any so-called “Muslim” countries concerned about the fate of Muslims in India. Political and economic interests trump all such considerations,” the former diplomat said.
“The Modi government has no interest in foreign affairs and has no coherent foreign policy. It has only two guiding interests – to change the idea of India on the basis of Hindutva and make a Hindu Rashtra, a state which will be displaying characteristics of neo-Fascism.”
“The second aspect is the persona of our leader – to project himself as a statesman and diplomat, and [that] in his individual personality, the salvation of the nation will be found.”
“These two ideas are not separate, they are integral to our national policy. Foreign affairs’ entire purpose is to support the two-point agenda at home, as engaging abroad goes down very well with the constituency at home.”
Shaheen Nazar, former senior editor of Arab News, said that the visit served a dual purpose.
“This tour was about killing two birds with one stone. PM Modi has regularly visited Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries. He has even been bestowed the highest civilian honour in Saudi Arabia, that too at a time when Muslims and Dalits were, and still are, being lynched in India.”
“In such a situation, it is quite clear that Saudi Arabia cares little for such issues. However, PM Modi is keen on showing the western world and international media that the Muslim world is standing beside him despite their ‘propaganda’ about the plight of Indian Muslims.”
“It is in fact a special type of diplomacy which is directly benefiting the Modi government and Ajit Doval is an expert in it.”
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Nazar added that figures like Al-Issa cannot speak much about democracy and coexistence.
“What can people like Al-Issa say about ‘democracy’ or ‘coexistence’?”
“He only repeated what he was told to say. He is close to the royal family and the organisations he is associated with, be it the Muslim World League or the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, all mask their foreign policy. Most Muslims do not even know about them. They rule over a conservative society, and are now trying to carve a liberal image for themselves in the name of reform.”
“I still maintain that they will not, and cannot, speak up on the issue of Indian Muslims.”
“They have nothing to offer in advice either. But Modi had to benefit from the visit, which he did.”
How common Muslims benefitted from the visit
Observers said that the people who met Al-Issa are hardly representative of the common Muslim in India.
“Al-Issa is not a familiar figure among Muslims, but he was sent to Akshardham along with a handful of elite Muslims of their organisation,” Nazar said.
“They are all close to the government, close to the BJP. They cannot take to the streets and raise the issues of Muslims. You must understand that none of the Muslims he met were truly a representative of the Muslim community. They are wealthy Muslims. So, what was it about? Do you think they could have any interest in Indian Muslims?”
“The question is – what were our religious leaders doing?”
“Saudi Arabia is a necessity for them. They get them to stay in five star hotels. They have no say with the government of the country. They are paid stooges, wazifa khwars, of the Arabs. If you ask them about this visit, they won’t utter a word. If they had the courage, they would have spoken up about the condition of Indian Muslims in front of him (Al-Issa). But they could not. Each of them has their own interests.”
Mir Ayoob Ali Khan, who worked as the Deputy Managing Editor in-charge of national and international Affairs at the Saudi Gazette and is currently associated with The Siasat Daily said that Al-Issa only met those people “whom Ajit Doval chose, and he chose only those who speak well about Modi.”
“It was a PR exercise, led by Doval,” he said.
Questioning why Al-Issa did not speak to any Muslim organisation in India, Khan asked:
“What was the purpose of his visit then? These are the people who have been fighting against idols their entire life and are now visiting those very places. What message do they want to convey by doing so? That they have changed their stance or have we changed?”
India and Saudi Arabia have generally warm relations. Credit: PTI.
“If you ask me why this is happening, I do not have a clear picture of his foreign policy. Secondly, we do not even know the opinion of Saudi Arabia about India. On the one hand, they are friends with Pakistan. Then they are joining hands with Turkey and Iran as well. And now they are striking a friendship with India in the same backdrop. How can they benefit from it?”
“Meanwhile, the Muslim leadership of India is completely divided,” he adds. “So, it is a very confusing situation about Muslims in India.”
According to Shakeel Rasheed, editor of Mumbai Urdu News, there was no need for Al-Issa to remark on the nationalism of Indian Muslims.
“Because Indian Muslims are undoubtedly proud of their Indianness and their constitution, and they also consider co-existence necessary.
“If at all he had to say something, it would have been better to point out in the presence of Ajit Doval how coexistence calls for the majority to take along the minorities of the country as well as the Dalits, backwards, tribals and the economically weaker sections.”
Rasheed added that on his part, while Al-Issa could not and should not interfere with the internal affairs of an independent country, as a guest and friend of this country, he could at least have given a message of peace and through this message he could have conveyed the true meaning of co-existence to the authorities.
“But it is enough that instead of calling Indian Muslims terrorists, he called them nationalist. It is not as if they do not know the situation, but they have their own vested interests.”