A fatwa issued by Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) prohibits Muslims from visiting Dargah and practising astrology
Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) which had stirred harness nest by issuing a fatwa against Pathanjali products saying it contains cow urine and its consumption by Muslims was haram (forbidden) in Islam, has now asked Muslims not to go to dargah for worship, and abandon faith in astrology.
Launched in 2004 by a break- away group of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, TNTJ has not contested in any elections so far and has been only campaigning with an eye to marginalise dominant Muslim political party, namely the Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi. TNTJ is popular among Muslim youths, claiming over 7.5 lakh members. It campaigned for the AIADMK in May, 2014.
The TNTJ’s state level conference held at Prattiyur on the Trichy-Dindigul state highway on January 31, the outfit state chief PM Al Thafi pointed out that non-Islamic practices like dargah worship, astrology and other superstitious beliefs. He said these were being propagated by followers of Islam. Thafi directed the followers of his outfit to follow the “right practices’’ prescribed under the religion. He said that the conference was meant to propagate Islam and was not intended to mobilse crowd for the ensuing state assembly elections due in May this year. He added that the conclave was totally about Islam and against dargah worship and superstitions. It adopted 18 resolutions. Among others the one highlighting was the superstitions like astrology pilli suniyam (witchcraft or sorcery). Ironically, in southern part of Bharat, Muslims most sought after for the fourth Veda viz Atharvaveda practices that included in this craft. It is seen as part of a move by puritanical groups within Islam to raise voice against syncretic practices that have taken root in the subcontinent over centuries. Many Muslim scholars took part in the meet. It began with a drama by student wing of the outfit to highlight the importance of Allah the God and making people aware that superstitious beliefs were banned.
Last month the party issued an edict against Pathanjali products to ensure that such products are not consumed by Muslims due to lack of awareness about the ingredients of the product they consume in daily life. It is against all products in which cow urine is used as an ingredient. This is the first time a Muslim organisation has issued fatwa against a popular Bharateeya product.
TNTJ sources said there was no political motive behind issuing fatwa as Quran clearly was what to eat and what not to. The edict was issued as Pathanjali products contain cow urine which is a waste and non-consumable. Many Muslims do not know this fact, hence we have issued an edict.
There are no takers for this theory, when the beef ban was imposed in some states, many Muslim outfits staged protests and organised beef eating festivals. It is an undisputable fact that majority of Muslims are eating cow meat in our country.
Muslim scholars are of the opinion that only a jammat (congregation) can issue a fatwa. Organisations issuing fatwa these days do not realise that they do not have power to do so and it is illegal as per Islamic law. Only Jammat can issue fatwa that is binding. Only Muslim Qazi can issue a fatwa. But at the same time, fatwas issued by an outfit can sway over Muslim masses, which fact can’t be easily brushed aside so easily. TS Venkatesan
