[Om Krishna Guru] Fatwa against singing Vande Mataram (TOI)

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*Fatwa against singing Vande Mataram *

 

Md A Basith

(Times of India; June 8, 2006)

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1629373.cms

**

 

HYDERABAD: With the new academic year set to start next week and the

admission process at its peak, several city--based muftis issued a fatwa on

Tuesday asking Muslims not to admit their children in schools where Vande

Mataram is sung every morning. Children who are already studying in such

institutions must be immediately shifted to other schools, the fatwa

ordered.

 

Muftis, including All--India Sunni Ulema Board president Moulana Syed Shah

Badruddin Qadri Aljeelani, Moulana Mohammed Hasnuddin, Moulana Mohammed

Mastan Ali, Nazima Aziz and Rizwana Zarreen of Jamiat--ul--Mominath, jointly

issued the fatwa when some parents approached them seeking a shariah ruling

on Vande Mataram. Several schools in the city start their day with a recital

of the national song. "Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra

Chatterjee.

It emphasises that Indians treat their land as God. Ours is a secular

country. Asking Muslims to do something like this cannot be advocated,"

Moulana Badruddin Qadri Aljeelani told TOI after issuing the fatwa.

 

Even if these institutions offer quality education, they cannot force

students to violate the shariah norms. Muslims cannot compromise on

Kalma--e--Tayyaba, the basic pillar of Islam which says there is only one

God and Mohammed is the Prophet, he added.

 

Parents sending their children to such schools are committing the

'Gunaah--e--Kabira'. Hence, stay away from schools which are not secular,

advised Mastan Ali. According to Islam, there is only one God.

 

The moment one starts believing in more than one God, it is treated as Shirk

(anti--Islam), said Moulana Mufti Hasnuddin. School authorities should not

force Muslim children to either recite Vande Mataram or any other rendition

which is prohibited in Islam, Mastan Ali added.