Fuelling the nationalism debate further, Islamic seminary Al Mahad al Aali al Islami issued a fatwa ruling that it is ‘impermissible’ for Muslims to chant ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’.
A report in the Times of India (TOI) quoted the fatwa from Darul Ifta of the seminary in Pahadi Shareef.
“Therefore, for a Muslim chanting Bharat Mata ki jai is not permissible as land of Hind (India) is not a goddess. Every Muslim loves the country and is willing to sacrifice his or her life for it, but prostrates only before Allah. For Muslims, only Allah must be worshipped,” read the fatwa.
Earlier last week, another Islamic seminary in Hyderabad Jamia Nizamia had released a similar fatwa.
“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,” UMF treasurer Syed Ahmedul Hussaini Sayeed Quadri told TOI.
Asaduddin Owaisi, leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), triggered the controversy after he said that he will not chant ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ even if he is threatened with fatal consequences.
