Islamic seminary Al Mahad al Aali al Islami on Monday issued a fatwa deeming it impermissible for Muslims to chant the expression, “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”
According to the TOI, an excerpt from the fatwa, released from Darul Ifta of the seminary in Pahadi Shareef reads. This comes soon after another fatwa last week by a Hyderabad-based seminary Jamia Nizamia, along the same lines, according to the report.
Therefore, for a Muslim chanting Bharat Mata ki, Jai is not permissible as the land of Hind (India) is not a goddess. Every Muslim loves the country and is also willing to sacrifice his or her life for it, but (the Muslim) prostrates only before Allah. (For Muslims), only Allah should be worshipped
“We can say ‘Bharat Desh ki Jai’, ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Hindustan zindabad’, but Bharat Mata symbolises a goddess which Muslims cannot worship” Syed Ahmedul Hussaini Sayeed Quadri says that.
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”.