Cleric’s Controversial Fatwa Sparks Outrage: New Year Celebrations Under Fire in Lucknow

A cleric in Bareilly, Shahabuddin Razvi, who is the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, has issued a fatwa urging Muslims to avoid participating in New Year celebrations. The edict was announced on Sunday and outlines that exchanging greetings or hosting parties to mark the New Year is considered un-Islamic according to Islamic teachings. The fatwa argues that the tradition of starting the year in January and the manner of celebrating are rooted in Christian customs, which Islam does not endorse.

Razvi emphasized that New Year festivities often involve activities such as dancing, obscenity, unruliness, alcohol consumption, and gambling, particularly in hotels, all of which are prohibited under Islamic Shariat. As per the directive, any Muslim youth found partaking in such activities would be considered committing a sin according to Sharia law. The cleric, belonging to the Barelvi sect, reinforced that a fatwa represents a religious opinion issued by a mufti in response to queries on religious matters, often serving as an advisory mandate to the Muslim community on how to adhere to Islamic principles.

This announcement comes as part of a broader effort by religious leaders to maintain traditional values and discourage the adoption of practices deemed inconsistent with Islamic beliefs. The issuance of such fatwas highlights ongoing debates within communities about cultural integration and religious observance.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/up-cleric-fatwa-new-year-celebrations-9751457/
Category : Cities,Lucknow
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Publish Date: 2024-12-30 14:45:00