National

Fatwa against Operation Sadbhavna

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: After moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq objected to the Army's plan of renovating shrines and mosques in the Valley, Kashmir's Grand Mufti gave it a new turn by issuing a fatwa (decree) that no donation can be accepted from a non-Muslim for religious affairs. He asked the people to return the money spent on such constructions.

The decree has come as a setback to the Army's "Operation Sadbhavna" as the Grand Mufti is the highest forum in the case of deciding on religious matters. Much before the Mirwaiz could organise the conference of scholars of Kashmir to deliberate upon the issue, the Mufti Azam (Grand Mufti) Mohammad Bashiruddin said the Shariat law does not allow any person or persons other than Muslim(s) to do such an act.

In a statement, he said: "Therefore, I in my capacity as Mufti Azam Jammu and Kashmir state declare that this shall be treated as a verdict within the purview of Islamic Shariat: that no person(s), organisation(s) other than Muslim(s) can construct, reconstruct, renovate any mosque or shrine.

"This action, if done, shall be construed as a naked interference in the religious affairs of Muslim community."

He said there was no room for confusion on the issue and "there is broad consensus among Muslim scholars."

The Mufti said if the Army was keen to help the people they could build bridges and construct toilets.

Though the Grand Mufti is generally seen as pro-government, he condemned "the Army's excesses on people in the last several years." And "such acts are nothing but a conspiracy against the Muslims of Kashmir which will be resisted with full might."

He said the decree had been endorsed by the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Personal Law Board and Nudwatul Ulema Jammu and Kashmir.

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