Kaif Raza Khan
21st century Indian scholar
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Muhammad Kaif Raza Khan (born 25 December 2001), is an Indian Islamic scholar, activist and cleric who belongs to the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat Movement. Khan is a descendant of Hassan Raza Khan Barelvi. He is the president of Dargah Ustad E Zaman Trust.[1][2][3]
- Shuaib Raza Khan (father)
Muhammad Kaif Raza Khan | |
|---|---|
Maulana Kaif Raza Khan | |
| Title | Fida-e-Millat |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 25 December 2001 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Parent |
|
| Era | Contemporary |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Tariqa | Qadri, Chishti, Suharwardi, Naqshbandi |
| Creed | Maturidi |
| Movement | Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat |
| Profession | Islamic Scholar |
| Website | ustadezaman |
Personal life
Kaif Raza Khan is a descendant of Hassan Raza Khan Barelvi, younger brother of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, founder of the Barelvi movement. He belongs to the Barech tribe of the Pushtuns.[4] He is the nephew of Tauqeer Raza Khan.[5][6]
Lineage
| Naqi Ali Khan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ahmed Raza Khan | Hassan Raza Khan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hamid Raza Khan | Mustafa Raza Khan | Hussain Raza Khan | Hasnain Raza Khan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ibrahim Raza Khan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akhtar Raza Khan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asjad Raza Khan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kaif Raza Khan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statements and views
In July 2023, Kaif Raza Khan issued a statement calling the government's order cancelling the holiday of Muharram as a "Tughlaqi Farmaan" and an end to social and religious harmony. Further said that the cancellation of Muharram holiday in the name of the anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) on the day of Muharram is completely wrong. Further, Kaif Raza Khan criticised Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and said that, "if the Prime Minister is very fond of narrating the speech, then he should go to the Parliament and there all the opposition is waiting for him. Due to his not giving speech, even the Parliament is not able to run and both the time and money of the Parliament are being wasted, so the Parliament needs his speech more than the schools."[7]
Recitation of Salaam in Ajmer Sharif
Khan has expressed his displeasure over Ajmer's Khadim Sarwar Chishti stopping Barelvi Ulema from giving speeches and saluting, distributing literature. Every Sunni Barelvi Muslim has immense respect for Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty. Khan said that on 27 January 2023 all of us will go to Ajmer.
After reaching the Ajmer Sharif Dargah will present the Nazrana of Salat-o-Salam with Adab and Ahtram (respect). Khan also said that Ala Hazrat has taken the education and message of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti to the masses. For decades, Sunni Barelvi Ulema read Naat and Mankabat and Writings of Ala Hazrat in the Dargah premises of Ajmer. Dargah is not anyone's property.[8][9]
Demanding an apology from Swedish government
On 21 January 2023, Rasmus Paludan was permitted by Swedish police to organise a demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm and set fire to the Quran with a lighter, Khan said:
We strongly condemn the desecration of Quran and burning of Quran in Sweden.This act of Sweden has hurt the faith of Muslims all over the world and the Muslims are angry against Sweden. We strongly condemn this act of the Swedish government. Our country India is a secular nation which respects all religions, so we demand from you that this act of Swedish government should be strongly condemned on behalf of India. Pressure should be made on the Swedish government to apologize to the Swedish government for allowing the burning of the Quran. On behalf of India, pressure should be made on the Swedish government to punish Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish citizen who burnt the Holy Quran."[10]
Controversy with Salman Hasan
On 29 January 2023, Salman Miyan, a son-in-law of Asjad Raza Khan met Sarwar Chishti, a Khadim of Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Khan said:
What was the need for Salman Hasan to meet Sarwar Chishti? Who gave them this permission? Shortly before this meeting, Khadims had beaten up the Barelvis in Garib Nawaz's Urs on Saturday late night. Hasan met the same Khadims and also invites them to come to Bareilly Sharif, how can this be understood. Khan also said that when Tauqeer Raza Khan works for Ittehad, fingers are pointed at him and why is there silence on the issue of Hasan."[11][12]
Activism
During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, Khan provided free ration kits to the needy through his organisation. He also delivered hundreds of free Sehri meals every day to the attendants of the hospitalised people during the month of Ramadan.[13][14][15][16][17]
On 18 April 2023, Khan also supported proposed protest announced by Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqeer Raza Khan and appealed to the public to participate in the protest.[18] The protest focused on such as law and order concerns, alleged oppression of Muslims, and deaths in police custody in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. He also said:
The condition of the country and state is not hidden from anyone. In such a situation, to protect the constitution, the protest proposed by Tauqeer Miyan will be held at Islamia Maidan Bareilly on April 19, within the ambit of the constitution. Against the oppression of muslims in India if peace-loving citizens do not come forward in time, dictatorship will be established in our country".[19][20][21][22][citation needed]
On 19 April 2023, Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqeer Raza Khan, Kaif Raza Khan, and their supporters were not permitted to hold a sit-in at Islamia Maidan Bareilly to protest. Khan described the denial of permission as a symbol of dictatorship.[23]
In June 2023, In a press conference, Khan targeted Bageshwar Dham's chief, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, and said that, Shastri is working to spread hatred against Muslims in the country through anti national speech. Further said, Shastri who dreams of a Hindu nation, should know that Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had said in 1940 that if Hindu nation becomes a reality, it will be the biggest disaster for the country. According to Khan, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel also believed in the same thing regarding the Hindu nation. Khan demanded a sedition case be registered against Dhirendra Shastri. Following Khan's statement, the office bearers of All India Brahmin Mahasabha organised a meeting at the central office. In which his statement regarding Shastri was condemned.[24][25][26][27][28]
Controversies
In January 2023, Salman Miyan, the vice-president of Jama'at Raza-e-Mustafa and son-in-law of Asjad Raza Khan, accused Kaif Raza Khan and said, He does not know any Maulana Kaif Raza, with what relation has Maulana Kaif called himself Asjad Miyan's nephew, this is also beyond understanding.[citation needed]
After the statement of Hasan, Khan released his genealogy and gave a reply to Hasan and said " Hasan has no identity of his own, he is just the son-in-law of Asjad. In order to gain publicity, Hassan goes on doing irresponsible things".[citation needed]
Also, the family members of Ala Hazrat strongly condemned Salman Hasan. Tauqeer Raza, President of Ittehad-e-Millat Council issued a letter revealing Maulana Kaif Raza's relation with Ala Hazrat and also condemned this allegation of Hassan.[29][30][31]
See also
- Barelvi family