New Delhi: Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband today issued a fatwa against the chanting of slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, saying ‘there is only one God in Islam’.
It states that ‘idol worship is not permissible in Islam’ therefore Muslims should restrain themselves from chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ -- which has been portrayed as a Goddess carrying a trident in one hand and clad in saffron clothes.
"We love our country, but it is not our god. In Islam, we believe in only one God and hence it is against the faith of a Muslim to chant the slogan," the fatwa issued by the Deoband seminary said.
The fatwa was issued on March 19 in response to queries of people regarding chanting of slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ sent to the seminary, Ashraf Usmani, spokesperson of the seminary, said.
The fatwa comes against the backdrop of debate over patriotism and chanting of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had stoked a controversy last month after he refused to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ saying he is not obliged to do so by Constitution.
Prior to Owaisi’s statement that stoked a debate, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said the youth should be taught patriotic slogans.
Recently, the Islamic institution had issued a decree asking community people to hoist Tricolour on their houses and establishments on Independence Day and celebrate the occasion with great spirit of patriotism. It had also directed madrassas across the country to teach students about Indian freedom struggle and the country's original spirit of unity in diversity.
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