Husain Ahmad Madani: The Jihad for Islam and India's Freedom

Husain Ahmad Madani: The Jihad for Islam and India's Freedom is an authored work by Barbara D. Metcalf, a professor at the University of California, presenting an account of the life and endeavors of Hussain Ahmed Madani. With an examination of Madani's political activism, spiritual journey, and religious contributions, this book offers a nuanced perspective. Published as part of the series Makers of the Muslim World by Oneworld Publications, it embraces distinctive themes that echo Metcalf's study titled Islamic Revival in British India. By delving into Madani's narrative, the book recognizes his central role in the nationalist politics of India's struggle for independence. Metcalf positions Madani's involvement in Congress-led anti-colonial nationalism as a contrasting force to the Muslim League's advocacy for a distinct Muslim religio-political identity, culminating in the separatist movements of the late 1940s. The author strives to rectify the prevalent Western bias that attributes Muslim political behavior solely to sacred texts, rather than considering geopolitical influences. Through a historicization of Madani's life and work, Metcalf endeavors to provide a comprehensive perspective that accounts for the multifaceted factors shaping his contributions.

Content
The opening chapter unfolds in the years 1915–1916 when Hussain Ahmed Madani embarked on a journey to Mecca in the Hejaz, a region he had a deep connection with. During this time, Madani's visit to Mecca served as a poignant moment, as he had spent a considerable part of his life there. However, in December 1916, Madani, along with his teacher Mahmud Hasan Deobandi and other colleagues and family members who shared the Deobandi ideology, faced a legal predicament. Their refusal to sign a document that fully endorsed the Sharif revolt against the Ottoman rule resulted in their arrest. Metcalf suggests that these arrests reflect the significant influence Madani and Mahmud Hasan held over Muslim public opinion in India. Their steadfast loyalty to the Ottomans led to their subsequent imprisonment in a detention camp in Malta for a duration of five years, which should be viewed as an integral part of the broader narrative surrounding the World War I.

Meanwhile, Madani's family in Mecca endured immense suffering and tragedy during his absence, as he learned through heartfelt letters recounting the multiple deaths that befell his kin. When Madani and his companions were finally released in 1920, their return to India marked a turning point in their lives. The experiences of incarceration and interactions with fellow prisoners of war had a profound impact on them. Metcalf suggests that it was during this period that Madani emerged as a nationalist thinker. In chapter three, titled a 'flashback', the author provides an account of Madani's formative years as an Islamic scholar. This account delves into the context of his upbringing, with a particular focus on his father's insistence that he receive a traditional Islamic education and undergo devotional Sufi training. Both aspects of his education were acquired at Darul Uloom Deoband, with the former being imparted through the curriculum and the latter through Sufi initiation by one of the founders of the institution.

The subsequent chapters, spanning the period from 1920 to 1947, shed light on Madani's unwavering commitment to both Indian nationalism and Islam. Throughout these years, Madani actively engaged in teaching at Deoband and in Sylhet. He also played an instrumental role in various organizations, including the Khilafat Committee, the newly established Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Congress party meetings, and numerous other Muslim voluntary associations, madrasas, and political organizations across India. Madani's primary concerns centered around the preservation of Islamic knowledge and the protection of Muslim Personal Law. These concerns were predominantly voiced through the platform of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. Madani believed that an inclusive electoral system, devoid of religious discrimination, could serve both objectives. Consequently, the Jamiat Ulema allied with the Congress party and advocated for the abolition of separate electorates while advocating for the retention of reserved seats.

Madani's political stance faced opposition, notably in a heated exchange with the poet Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal argued that Madani's understanding of composite Indian nationalism, which sought to encompass Muslims and Hindus within a territorially and historically defined framework, misconstrued the meanings of Arabic terms used to describe communities in the Quran and hadith. Chapter five, titled "Who speaks for the Muslims," effectively illustrates the diverse opinions regarding "Muslim politics" in colonial India. Metcalf draws attention to the political dynamics of the Muslim League and highlights the "Madani formula" of autonomous provincial groupings as an alternative to the eventual partition of the subcontinent. However, the author cautions against assuming that either faction could claim to represent the entirety of India's Muslim population. Metcalf provides insights into the positions held by other scholars, Muslim secularists, political Islamists like Abul A'la Maududi, and smaller Muslim organizations.

In conclusion, Metcalf asserts that this biography of Madani aims to illuminate his contributions to the anti-colonial politics of an undivided India. The author reflects on Madani's post-partition efforts in India, where he strove to foster an apolitical and educational environment that promoted self-discipline among Muslims. Madani's objective was to challenge the prevailing notion that every Muslim, including those who remained in India and those who had fought for a united India, bore some responsibility for the partition.

Reception
Zeeshan Chaudri, a PhD scholar at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) within the University of London, provided his perspective on the book in question. Chaudri highlighted that the book primarily delves into Madani's political ideas and personal journey, neglecting to explore his roles as a jurist, theologian, and mystic. In an article featured in The Express Tribune, Ammar Anwer expressed his appreciation for the researched account. Anwer reflected on the immense debt owed by Eastern societies to these inquisitive orientalists who have resurrected these historical figures and reintroduced them to the forefront of scholarly discussions that had long faded from our collective memory. SherAli Tareen from Franklin & Marshall College stated that this accessible yet critical biography would be beneficial in a class on religion and Islam in colonial India.