Terrorism in the name of Islam has been dealt a big blow with one of the world’s most influential Islamic centres, the Deoband school, denouncing all acts of terror as un-Islamic. The denunciation of terrorism came, during a meeting attended at the Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband by thousands of delegates, who represented diverse Islamic sects from across the country.

The statement issued at the end of the conclave described terrorism as un-Islamic and anti-national. Though Islamic religious heads have earlier condemned terrorism as un-Islamic – the Grand Imam of Mecca had decried violence against citizens – the move by the Deobandis is significant. Many terror outfits like the Taliban, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami and the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen have claimed inspiration from and links to Deobandi Islam. The Deoband meet’s statement on terrorism is not quite a fatwa on terrorism. Still it is the loudest condemnation of terrorism to come from the school so far.

While sections of the Muslim community in India have often reiterated their disgust with terrorism and expressed concern with the increasing association of Islam with terrorism, the definitive assertion by the clerics will go a long way in further clarifying the position. It also underlines the damage done to the Muslim community and Islam by terrorist groups claiming to act in the name of religion. The condemnation is a welcome development, especially because attempts are made to associate Islam, which is a religion of universal brotherhood, with hatred and violence.

The Deoband meet has also drawn attention to the security agencies targeting Muslims following terror strikes and the discrimination they suffer. The government must heed this point that the Deoband meet has raised. The Deobandi denunciation of terrorism could result in the isolation of extremist and terrorist elements among Muslims. But if government agencies persist with labelling and treating all Muslims as terrorists, Muslim alienation with the Indian state will continue to grow, negating in the process the gains that can be made through the Deobandi denunciation. As for the Deobandis, they must take their verbal denunciation of terrorism further. Extremist indoctrination, support and sanctuary to terrorists must end.