Kanpur Maulana says his rejoinder to Satanic Verses will renew threats against Rushdie

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

A 60-year old Kanpur cleric and editor of an Islamic journal plans to put Salman Rushdie in the dock once again, eight years after Ayatollah . Khomeini issued a fatwa against the novelist.

Hafiz Kahir Uddin Qadri's The Final Verses, which is nearing completion in English, is aimed at "dispelling the doubts and suspicions aroused by Salman Rushdie in his most unholy, The Satanic Verses.''

"No sooner has my message got across to millions of believers in Islam spread across the globe, I am sure it will renew the anger of people against the author of The Satanic Verses," he told Rediff On The NeTin a telephonic interview.

Qadri's original work in Urdu, Shaitani Ayaat ka jawaab-Imaani Ayaat appeared on the stands about 18 months ago, but remained unnoticed until it drew the attention of scholars at the Jamia Millia University in New Delhi. Three of these scholars then set down to translate it into English.

"The 400-page English volume will give a blow by blow reply to the pack of lies and distortions spelt out by Rushdie in his 400-page book," says Qadri.

Asked if he expected any fresh threats to Rushdie's life once the English version was in circulation, Qadri pointed out, "Islam very explicitly spells out death as the only punishment for anyone condemning or criticising the Quran; therefore I would not be surprised if Rushdie faces more threats to his life after my message reaches the millions who know English."

The 1,200-page Urdu work not only goes to great lengths to prove Rushdie wrong, but Qadri also trains his guns at Taslima Nasreen, the Bangladeshi poet (EM>Lajja) in one part of the book specially devoted to her. Yet another part of the book deals with "those who, through their writings or otherwise, have favoured Rushdie and his thoughts."

Qadri's association with Islamic theology has been long and deep. Apart from being imam of a local mosque in Kanpur, he has published a journal on Islamic theology, Ifteqamaat Digest since 1961. "From a four-page leaflet, it has grown into a digest; but this too was noticed when I began to publish it in English in the eighties."

He was invited by the World Islamic Mission to England in 1990. "And that is where I lay my hands on Rushdie's infamous Satanic Verses," he said. "I spent three months in the UK. I took note of all the points raised by him and felt that each deserved a befitting reply, not merely on the basis of Islamic scriptures, but also on the basis of what had been stated about Islam in the religious scriptures of both Christians and Jews, who were now according shelter to Rushdie."

"I thought my message would be able to go across to the larger world community once it was translated in English," Qadri said, "more important than that was my urge to prevent younger Muslims's minds from being misled and polluted by Rushdie's writings. Now they will have something before them that will convince them that whatever Rushdie was saying was a pack of distortions and lies, motivated by ulterior designs."

The Final Verses will be on the stands within three months and Qadri plans to translate his work into Hindi thereafter.