Taking a strong step against some Muslims who sought votes for the BJP and said the national song, Vande Mataram, is a way to express love for the homeland, Agra’s local Mufti Abdul Kuddus Rumi has expelled them from the community. His fatwa has also nullified their weddings.The expelled Muslims, at least 54 of them, also include the Mutwallis (masjid heads) of the Loha Mandi and Shaheed Nagar mosques where these Muslims had held their Friday meetings. According to the information available, a group of Muslims had reportedly expressed their patriotic sentiments in a meeting at the Loha Mandi mosque on Friday by declaring that Vande Mataram is a song written purely in praise of the motherland and doesn’t mask any religious sentiments.They also reportedly urged fellow Muslims to support the BJP in the coming elections claiming it to be the only party thinking about the Muslims’ welfare. The statement invited a heated debate on the issue of the religious implications of singing Vande Mataram among the Muslims and some of the religious leaders sought Mufti Rumi’s advice. Mufti promptly issued a fatwa expelling the 54 from Islam while declaring that the song will lead Muslims to hell. He said by advocating the song, these people are deviating from the path shown by Prophet Mohammad.He also said if any of those expelled wish to revert to Islam, they will have to cleanse their soul of the ‘‘unclean’’ thoughts and re-marry according to Islam.
