INDIAIslamic seminary issues fatwa on Bharat Mata slogan
Syed Mohammed | TNN | Mar 22, 2016, 01.56 AM IST
Representative image.
HYDERABAD: Islamic seminary Al Mahad al Aali al Islami on Monday issued a fatwa deeming it impermissible for Muslims to chant the expression, "Bharat Mata ki Jai."
The fatwa released from the Darul Ifta of the seminary in Pahadi Shareef, founded by Muslim Personal Law Board secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, noted that the slogan seeks to "deify" the country. This follows a similar fatwa issued by another city-based influential seminary Jamia Nizamia, rejecting the slogan last week.
Explaining the rationale behind the fatwa, which is an Islamic jurisprudential opinion, Mufti Shahid Ali Qasmi said that expressions such as "motherland" signify immense love for the country. However, Muslims cannot worship a country as a Goddess.
An excerpt from the fatwa reads: "Therefore, for a Muslim chanting Bharat Mata ki jai is not permissible as the land of Hind (India) is not a goddess. Every Muslim loves the country and is also willing to sacrifice his or her life for it, but (the Muslim) prostrates only before Allah. (For the Muslims), only Allah should be worshipped."
Confirming that the fatwa was issued, Islamic scholar from the Mahad Omar Abideen on Monday reiterated that love for the country and worshipping it are two separate subjects which should not be confused with each other. "Without worshipping it, one can love the country as much as any other countryman. The person is like any other patriot," he said.
The United Muslim Forum (UMF), a body of religious figures too, on Monday issued a statement expressing outrage over the "environment being created in the country using the Bharat Mata" slogan. The panel sought to buttress its point by claiming that the Supreme Court in 1987 had ruled that singing the national song Vande Mataram is not mandatory. "When the apex court is clear it its ruling of the national song, then the "Bharat Mata" slogan is neither the national song, nor is it mentioned in the Constitution," an excerpt from the statement reads.
Speaking to TOI, UMF treasurer Syed Ahmedul Hussaini Sayeed Quadri said: "We can say "Bharat desh ki jai", "jai Hind" or "Hindustan zindabad", but Bharat Mata symbolises a goddess which Muslims cannot worship. There Islamic scholars are unanimous on the issue."
The fatwa released from the Darul Ifta of the seminary in Pahadi Shareef, founded by Muslim Personal Law Board secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, noted that the slogan seeks to "deify" the country. This follows a similar fatwa issued by another city-based influential seminary Jamia Nizamia, rejecting the slogan last week.
Explaining the rationale behind the fatwa, which is an Islamic jurisprudential opinion, Mufti Shahid Ali Qasmi said that expressions such as "motherland" signify immense love for the country. However, Muslims cannot worship a country as a Goddess.
An excerpt from the fatwa reads: "Therefore, for a Muslim chanting Bharat Mata ki jai is not permissible as the land of Hind (India) is not a goddess. Every Muslim loves the country and is also willing to sacrifice his or her life for it, but (the Muslim) prostrates only before Allah. (For the Muslims), only Allah should be worshipped."
Confirming that the fatwa was issued, Islamic scholar from the Mahad Omar Abideen on Monday reiterated that love for the country and worshipping it are two separate subjects which should not be confused with each other. "Without worshipping it, one can love the country as much as any other countryman. The person is like any other patriot," he said.
Top Comment
He got it right, once you are muslin, you no longer are attached to the country, you are slave to Saudi's.The United Muslim Forum (UMF), a body of religious figures too, on Monday issued a statement expressing outrage over the "environment being created in the country using the Bharat Mata" slogan. The panel sought to buttress its point by claiming that the Supreme Court in 1987 had ruled that singing the national song Vande Mataram is not mandatory. "When the apex court is clear it its ruling of the national song, then the "Bharat Mata" slogan is neither the national song, nor is it mentioned in the Constitution," an excerpt from the statement reads.
Speaking to TOI, UMF treasurer Syed Ahmedul Hussaini Sayeed Quadri said: "We can say "Bharat desh ki jai", "jai Hind" or "Hindustan zindabad", but Bharat Mata symbolises a goddess which Muslims cannot worship. There Islamic scholars are unanimous on the issue."
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No Holi in Latehar village after cattle traders' lynching
Alok K N Mishra & M F AHMED | TNN | Mar 22, 2016, 01.50 AM IST
RANCHI/DALTONGANJ: Hindu community overseers in Balumath village in Latehar district linked to peace conclaves have decided not to celebrate Holi this week because of gloom over the lynching of the two Muslim traders. Instead, the peace vigilantes will take out a march without using gulal or colours.
"The victims' relatives have welcomed the decision. This will go a long way towards creating a climate of peace. It will also strengthen the fabric of brotherhood in the area," said a police officer, who was part of the meeting that took place at the Balumath police station, but is not authorised to speak to the media.
The peace march will cross all the squares in Balumath, and through victims' villages. Zila parishad member from Balumath, Rajendar Sahu, said the people of the village will not play with colours to commiserate with the bereaved family.
The sight of bodies hanging from trees has left a deep sense of unease and fear, said Congress member Samsher Alam, who visited the village on Sunday. JVM district chief Umesh Singh too said his party would not join the Holi celebrations.
The people arrested so far for the twin murder are all members of the Sahu community. But a local Sahu community authority, Rajendra Sahu, who is also the vice chairman of Latehar zila parishad, said the decision not to play Holi is backed by all Hindus.
Latehar deputy commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla said the lynching was the work of a fringe and that the people of both the communities have been living peacefully for decades. "Post-lynching, the district administration has received more than expected help from both the communities. They have maintained peace," Shukla said. Everyone, Shukla said, has a deep sense of remorse over the murders.
Nonetheless, prohibitory orders remain in place, imposed after people protesting against the lynching turned violent and injured the SDO and cops who were trying to enforce the law. The orders are likely to continue until after Holi, police said.
"The victims' relatives have welcomed the decision. This will go a long way towards creating a climate of peace. It will also strengthen the fabric of brotherhood in the area," said a police officer, who was part of the meeting that took place at the Balumath police station, but is not authorised to speak to the media.
The peace march will cross all the squares in Balumath, and through victims' villages. Zila parishad member from Balumath, Rajendar Sahu, said the people of the village will not play with colours to commiserate with the bereaved family.
The sight of bodies hanging from trees has left a deep sense of unease and fear, said Congress member Samsher Alam, who visited the village on Sunday. JVM district chief Umesh Singh too said his party would not join the Holi celebrations.
The people arrested so far for the twin murder are all members of the Sahu community. But a local Sahu community authority, Rajendra Sahu, who is also the vice chairman of Latehar zila parishad, said the decision not to play Holi is backed by all Hindus.
Latehar deputy commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla said the lynching was the work of a fringe and that the people of both the communities have been living peacefully for decades. "Post-lynching, the district administration has received more than expected help from both the communities. They have maintained peace," Shukla said. Everyone, Shukla said, has a deep sense of remorse over the murders.
Nonetheless, prohibitory orders remain in place, imposed after people protesting against the lynching turned violent and injured the SDO and cops who were trying to enforce the law. The orders are likely to continue until after Holi, police said.
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97% want video recording of court proceedings: Study
Dhananjay Mahapatra | TNN | Mar 22, 2016, 01.48 AM IST
NEW DELHI: Like the US Supreme Court, the highest court in India remains adamant on keeping cameras out of court rooms, but an online survey found that 97% of citizens wanted video and CCTV recording of court hearings and were even willing to pay for the recording of their cases.
LocalCircles, a citizen engagement platform, conducted the survey, evoking responses from 13,000 persons - 75% male and 25% female. "Over 80% of participants said they were willing to pay a retrieval fee for that video if it was a paid service," LocalCircles founder Sachin Taparia told TOI.
The results of the survey assume importance as the present CJI, T S Thakur, feels that the voice of litigants and public must be heard to make the justice delivery process transparent.
In November 2014, the SC had rejected a government proposal to initiate audio-video recording of court proceedings, which was to have a trial run in the 15,000-odd subordinate courts. In February 2014, a two-minute video footage of the US Supreme Court proceedings had gone viral, evoking criticism. An advertisement put out by the 'Coalition for Court Transparency' read, "The SC's decisions impact the lives of Americans, but only a privileged few get to witness history and see justice in action."
In January 2015, an SC bench headed by then CJI H L Dattu had rejected a similar petition, saying, " Whatever we discuss in the innermost chamber is out there in the public. What we discuss among judges in the collegium meetings are also out in public. There is no need for CCTV."
The participants also recommeneded appointing more judges and cutting down court holidays to speed up justice delivery.
LocalCircles, a citizen engagement platform, conducted the survey, evoking responses from 13,000 persons - 75% male and 25% female. "Over 80% of participants said they were willing to pay a retrieval fee for that video if it was a paid service," LocalCircles founder Sachin Taparia told TOI.
The results of the survey assume importance as the present CJI, T S Thakur, feels that the voice of litigants and public must be heard to make the justice delivery process transparent.
In November 2014, the SC had rejected a government proposal to initiate audio-video recording of court proceedings, which was to have a trial run in the 15,000-odd subordinate courts. In February 2014, a two-minute video footage of the US Supreme Court proceedings had gone viral, evoking criticism. An advertisement put out by the 'Coalition for Court Transparency' read, "The SC's decisions impact the lives of Americans, but only a privileged few get to witness history and see justice in action."
In January 2015, an SC bench headed by then CJI H L Dattu had rejected a similar petition, saying, " Whatever we discuss in the innermost chamber is out there in the public. What we discuss among judges in the collegium meetings are also out in public. There is no need for CCTV."
The participants also recommeneded appointing more judges and cutting down court holidays to speed up justice delivery.
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173 COMMENTS
WHAT A BUNCH OF LOSERS AND MORONS, SHAME FOR BEING SO PITIFUL, NARROW AND SHALLOW MINDED!!.