Now Deoband Fatwa against ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’

 

 

Darul Uloom Deoband of Uttar Pradesh has become infamous the world over for its controversial fatwas. The organisation has so far issued more than one lakh fatwas. 2005 onwards, Darul Uloom established an online department for fatwas. So far Darul Uloom has uploaded about 35 thousand fatwas in Urdu and about 9 thousand fatwas in English on its website. Ever since the online department started, Muslims have been posting questions on the website and seek answers for the same. Darul Uloom has so far issued many controversial fatwas some of which include barring Muslim women from getting Mehendi done from other men, declaring installation of CCTV’s as ‘Haram’, etc. Darul Uloom’s recent Fatwa on hugging each other during Eid had made it to the headlines.

 

 

Just before the Eid this year, a man from Pakistan asked a question on its website where he wished to know that if a person comes forward to greet during Eid, will it be okay to hug him? Apart from answering the question, a fatwa was issued on behalf of Darul Uloom Deoband. The Fatwa states, “If someone tries to hug during Eid, then he should be stopped. Embracing each other on the occasion of Eid is not good at the eyes of Islam.”This Fatwa by the Darul Uloom had gone viral on social media and many had criticized it.

 

 

Recently, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (MIIM) MP Owaisi had said that “Even if a knife is placed on his neck, I will not say Bharat Mata ki Jai.” After this statement of Owaisi, people across religions had asked Darul Uloom, “Should a Muslim avoid uttering Bharat Mata ki Jai just as they are forbade to say Vande Mataram.” Soon, a meeting of Darul Uloom was convened over this. After the meeting, the Maulanas of Darul Uloom issued a fatwa which stated that, “Muslims can not worship anyone other than Allah. Bharat Mata ki jai in a way is meant as a worship which is why Muslims should not say Bharat Mata ki jai”.

 

Consequently, after the fatwa was issued by Darul Uloom in relation to the utterance of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, the Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board,Wasim Rizvi issued the order in July 2018 stating, ‘Across all the properties of Shia Wakf board, Indian flag will be hoisted on Independence Day and later everyone will say Bharat Mata ki Jai. Anyone who does not adhere to this will be prosecuted.”

 

 

Another fatwa of Darul Uloom which was much debated last year was related to women. The fatwa stated that when a woman comes out of their house, the devil stares at them and hence a woman should not step out of the house for any reason. Only if there is a pressing need they may step out of the house. But they should wear loose clothes when they come out of their homes. In 2018, a fatwa was issued in Saudi Arabia which the Darul Uloom also supported. The fatwa forbade Muslim women from watching football matches. The fatwa states that “Football players play wearing shorts and Muslim women end up seeing their knees. It is a crime to see the naked knees of other Muslim men (other than husbands’).”

 

Likewise, Darul Uloom issued a fatwa which prohibits Muslim women from wearing bangles with the aid other men in the market. It is a crime to wear bangles with the aid of hands of men who are not related to them by blood. Stepping out of the house with the intention of wearing bangles with the aid of other men is also a crime, states the fatwa. In another fatwa, it had said that Muslim women should not get Mehendi done by other men. It is un-Islamic and is not acceptable under the Shariah law.

 

Another fatwa was widely contested which stated that Muslims should not insure their properties nor take a medical insurance. Such insurances accrues interest and taking interest is considered as ‘haram’ in Islam. Similarly, CCTV has been declared un-Islamic. The Fatwa states that it is ‘haram’ to take photographs in Islam. Photos are captured in the CCTVs and hence it is un-Islamic, states another fatwa.