Islamic school, Darul Uloom, has issued a fatwa against 15-year-old Muslim girl from Meerut for reciting the "Bhagavad Gita".
Alia Khan bagged the second prize at a function organised by the Yogi Adityanath government. The occasion was to mark 101 years of the Lucknow Pact of freedom struggle last week
All Alia did was learn the shlokas of Bhagavad Gita, which she recited dressed as Lord Krishna. Deoband muftis and ulemas criticised her, calling her actions un-Islamic.
Fatwa was issued against a 15-year old Muslim girl in Uttar Pradesh, after she came 2nd for reciting the Gita pic.twitter.com/WJHOAXuROk
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 4, 2018
“How could she dress up like Lord Krishna? It is anti-Islamic,” a Deoband Ulema told Indian Express.
15-year-old girl slapped with fatwa for reciting Gita. Here's the detailed report. #ITVideo https://t.co/NounxnP7mg pic.twitter.com/TZ7yFQoVNZ
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) January 3, 2018
Following her presentation, the online department of Darul Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa. It declared Alia’s action as against Islam and warned her about the act.
What is wrong in a Muslim girl participating in a #BhagwadGita competition held in school, it's her freedom to decide whether she has to participate in school competition or not. #Fatwa has been issued against her. Shame on Mazhab ke thekedars .
— MT?? (@MahimaTiwary25) January 2, 2018
Guests who attended the event were Governor Ram Naik, chief minister Aditya Nath Yogi, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Tilak’s great-grandson Shailesh and his wife Mukta, who is also the Pune mayor. Tilak’s interpretation of Gita is called ‘Gita Rahasya’.
Over 150 students participated in the contest. Alia, who earned second place, was rewarded with Rs 25,000.
When asked about the fatwa, Alia said she is determined to fight this fatwa as the logic is baseless.
I dressed as Krishna & recited Gita as a part of competition. Islam is not so weak that we will be dismissed from it just for reciting Gita or wearing a costume. They issued fatwa but will request all not to drag me into politics: Alia Khan #Meerut pic.twitter.com/7sr0dY696o
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 4, 2018
Fatwa issued against 15-year-old muslim girl Aalia frm Meerut 4 reciting #BhagwatGeeta in Krishna’s attire
— Lalita Nijhawan (@LalitaNijhawan) January 4, 2018
How long will this evil practice of issuing fatwas continue, how long will Muslim clerics continue 2 divide communities? Will “intolerance brigade” raise voice against them? https://t.co/9Mo4bD5nsB
Girl Earned CM's Praise
At the function, CM Yogi Adityanath had praised Alia. He said, “Being a Muslim, the way Alia recited the shlokas is worth appreciation.”
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“Dressing up as someone else through makeup and costume is anti-Islamic and was called ‘Shirq’ (believing in other religion besides Islam). Alia’s act also amounts to Shirq,” said Mufti Arshad Farooqui, chairman, online fatwa department of Darul Uloom.
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Feature Image Credit: YouTube