Fatwa against ‘political’ iftar

Fatwa against 'political' iftar

CITHARA PAUL

 

New Delhi, Sept. 7: The country's highest Islamic seminary has issued a fatwa against iftars hosted by political parties, saying they go against Islamic tradition.

The iftar has no place for lies, hypocrisy and politics, says the fatwa by the Darul Uloom of Deoband, discouraging Muslims from attending these iftars.

Political parties of all hues in India hold iftars — the evening meal when Muslims break their Ramazan fast — to attract the community's votes and network with its leaders. Even US President Barack Obama hosted an iftar last week.

At an iftar held by the Trinamul Congress minority cell in Calcutta yesterday, Mamata Banerjee had announced a sop, saying railway recruitment exams could now be taken in Urdu. Trinamul plans two more iftars on September 9 and 16, which Mamata is to attend.

"If the… purpose behind such gatherings is political, then religion doesn't come into the picture,'' Mufti Zahoor Nadvi of the Darul Uloom said.

Another argument against "political" iftars relates to the source of their funding. "It would be against Islam if the source of money is the liquor business or interest from loans,'' said Mubarak Hussein of the Jamiat Ulema, Delhi.

The fatwa, however, doesn't extend to politicians being invited to private iftars.

Leading Urdu dailies such as Inquilab, Siasat, Khabrein and Qurbani too have decided to boycott political iftars.

"Politicians think hosting iftars will garner them the community's support… in elections. So they wear the skullcap… but as soon as the show is over, they dump the community," Inquilab editor Shahid Latif said. "Muslims are fed up. They feel humiliated whenever such iftar showoffs take place."

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