Fatwa issued against SP candidate Naseem Solanki for offering water on Shivling in Kanpur
A fatwa has been issued against Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Naseem Solanki after she offered water on a Shivling at the Vankhandeshwar Temple in Kanpur's Sisamau constituency on Diwali.
Nov 2, 2024, 13:09 IST
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh — A fatwa has been issued against Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Naseem Solanki after she offered water on a Shivling at the Vankhandeshwar Temple in Kanpur's Sisamau constituency on Diwali. The fatwa was issued by Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, who stated that Solanki's actions violated Islamic principles, urging her to seek forgiveness (tauba) for her act.
On the first day of Diwali, SP candidate from the Sisamau constituency by-elections went to the temple on Thursday night and performed Diwali rituals. Videos, in the circulation on the social media site, present how she pours water on Shivling, lit diyas and performs aarti. There has been sharp opposition, which not only consists of religious leaders but the political opponents too.
In contrast to that, Maulana Razvi's Fatwa proclaims Idol Worshiping to be Forbidden in Islam
In response to questions whether a Muslim woman can do Hindu rituals, Maulana Razvi clarified that idol worship is strictly forbidden in Islam and that only Allah should be worshiped. "If someone willingly engages in such acts, they violate Sharia law and are obligated to repent.". If a person committs these acts by compulsion or ignorance of knowledge, then he should do kalma along with that of repentance and commit no such acts in the near future to save their faith, Razvi said.
The Vankhandeshwar Temple is in the Sisamau constituency. The electoral boundaries in which Solanki is contesting as the SP candidate. Solanki is the wife of Irfan Solanki, who is a four-time MLA from Sisamau and is now in jail. After Irfan was sent to jail, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav declared Naseem Solanki as the candidate, and hence, she started involving herself with the local Muslim community.
Political Reactions: BJP Criticizes, Congress Extends Support
The incident has received mixed reactions across the political lines. State Minister for BJP's Minority Wing, Anas Usmani, was critical of the actions of Solanki and labeled them as a ploy to attract Hindu votes in the Sisamau by-election. Usmani asked, "Where are the Maulanas and Ulemas who often issue fatwas? Those who betray religious beliefs for political benefits deserve to be taught a lesson." He said that just as Solanki had been taken to the temple, there has never been a day when the BJP asked any of its Muslim leaders to go to the temple to seek political mileage.
According to Mansoori, however, who is the president of the Kanpur Congress district, "Everyone has their religious beliefs, and she followed her own as well. If she visited the temple out of respect, it doesn't mean her faith has changed. BJP keeps focusing on such divisive issues, while our priority is development.". She won't cause any harm to the Muslim community, said Mansoori, while supporting the Congress and the alliance that will be continued further during the by-election process.
This incident has ignited discussions of religious identity and political manoeuvering with leaders here debating whether Solanki was really paying his homage to the gods or wanted political mileage among the constituency's Hindu voters.
On the first day of Diwali, SP candidate from the Sisamau constituency by-elections went to the temple on Thursday night and performed Diwali rituals. Videos, in the circulation on the social media site, present how she pours water on Shivling, lit diyas and performs aarti. There has been sharp opposition, which not only consists of religious leaders but the political opponents too.
In contrast to that, Maulana Razvi's Fatwa proclaims Idol Worshiping to be Forbidden in Islam
In response to questions whether a Muslim woman can do Hindu rituals, Maulana Razvi clarified that idol worship is strictly forbidden in Islam and that only Allah should be worshiped. "If someone willingly engages in such acts, they violate Sharia law and are obligated to repent.". If a person committs these acts by compulsion or ignorance of knowledge, then he should do kalma along with that of repentance and commit no such acts in the near future to save their faith, Razvi said.
The Vankhandeshwar Temple is in the Sisamau constituency. The electoral boundaries in which Solanki is contesting as the SP candidate. Solanki is the wife of Irfan Solanki, who is a four-time MLA from Sisamau and is now in jail. After Irfan was sent to jail, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav declared Naseem Solanki as the candidate, and hence, she started involving herself with the local Muslim community.
Political Reactions: BJP Criticizes, Congress Extends Support
The incident has received mixed reactions across the political lines. State Minister for BJP's Minority Wing, Anas Usmani, was critical of the actions of Solanki and labeled them as a ploy to attract Hindu votes in the Sisamau by-election. Usmani asked, "Where are the Maulanas and Ulemas who often issue fatwas? Those who betray religious beliefs for political benefits deserve to be taught a lesson." He said that just as Solanki had been taken to the temple, there has never been a day when the BJP asked any of its Muslim leaders to go to the temple to seek political mileage.
According to Mansoori, however, who is the president of the Kanpur Congress district, "Everyone has their religious beliefs, and she followed her own as well. If she visited the temple out of respect, it doesn't mean her faith has changed. BJP keeps focusing on such divisive issues, while our priority is development.". She won't cause any harm to the Muslim community, said Mansoori, while supporting the Congress and the alliance that will be continued further during the by-election process.
This incident has ignited discussions of religious identity and political manoeuvering with leaders here debating whether Solanki was really paying his homage to the gods or wanted political mileage among the constituency's Hindu voters.
