Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thaanvi (rahmatullah alayh) commenting on the non-Muslim political movements of his age said: “Among the reasons for my dissociation from the political movements of this age is my belief that they are in conflict with the Shariah. Also, participation in these movements is in conflict with my natural disposition. Most of the Ulama who had participated in these movements had become useless. In consequence of their participation they failed to discharge their Deeni obligations. However, they remained diligent in one activity — they would quickly provide a basis in the Qur’aan and Sunnah for the shaitaaniyat which was proclaimed on the tongues of kufr of the Tawaagheet (plural of Taaghoot—devil).”
Hakimul Ummat here refers to the participation of the Ulama in kuffaar politics. They had joined with the Hindus in the political movement to oust the British from India. On this process, the political Ulama had over-stepped the limits of the Shariah. They would provide Shar’i basis and ‘proofs’ for the political ideologies of the kuffaar. This very disease is plaguing the Ulama of the present age.