In a move bound to stoke controversy, an Islamic seminary Al Mahad al Aali al Islami on Monday issued a fatwa saying it was "impermissible" for Muslims to chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai.“
According to a Times of India report, an excerpt from the fatwa, released from Darul Ifta of the seminary in Pahadi Shareef reads:
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.
This comes soon after another fatwa last week by a Hyderabad based seminary Jamia Nizamia, along the same lines.
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."
Earlier, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi triggered controversy with a speech wherein he said that he would not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a "knife is put to my throat".
"I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab," the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad had said, referring to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that the new generation needed to be taught to hail "Mother India".
Following this, AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for refusing to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' after it adopted a unanimous resolution, escalating the row over chanting the slogan.
Pathan said, "We will say 'Jai Hind' but not 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and there cannot be any compulsion."
Later talking to reporters, Pathan sought justice, saying," I have not disrespected my country. I am proud of having been born in this country and god willing will be buried in the very earth here. I have not disrespected my country, and I cannot think of doing so. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat. Jai Maharashtra."