‘Vande Mataram not against Islam’

Distancing themselves from the Jamiat-Ulema-E-Hind’s fatwa against Muslims singing Vande Mataram, many Muslim scholars have spoken against the move.

Film writer Salim Khan wrote a piece in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna in favour of singing the national song. “Do the people who banned singing Vande Mataram know what Islam is?” he asked. “What is wrong in expressing gratitude towards the country where we are born? Vande Mataram is not a problem for Islam. The real need before the community is to educate the poor,” he said.

Javed Ahmed from Muslim Secular Democracy said that there was a need to understand the politics behind such fatwas. “The earlier decisions given by Jamiat-Ulema-E-Hind regarding gender equality, education and economy were never welcome. Still, a larger group of the society followed their decisions. It badly affected the community’s perspective towards development,” he said.

According to Ujleman Khan, president of Dawood-E-Niswan, sensitising the Muslim youth can help deal with such problems. “It is necessary to discuss the problems with the Muslim youth and help them develop the right attitude towards all religion,” he said.
Mohammad Javed, president, All India Islamic Student Organisation, said, “Muslims always respect India. But there is a difference of opinion in how we can express gratitude. It is more important to spread awareness about education in the community. The people who want to make singing Vande Mataram mandatory should also note this.”

Safadar Karmani, president of Khija Shia Ishanashari Jamat, said that the fatwa will be beneficial for certain political parties. “The opposition to Vande Mataram is a new political move. If the Hind-Muslim conflict over the issue continues, the enemies will use it as an opportunity against the country.”