By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: On the eve of polling in Lucknow, a fatwa has been issued by Darul-Ifta, Farangi Mahal stating not to vote for parties which have desecrated the pictures of religious shrines.
The fatwa was in reference to a question asked regarding the advertisement issued by UP Tourism Department in Lucknow’s Heritage Walk where pictures of Tilewali Masjid, Imambara were depicted in the footprints.
In the fatwa issued by Shaher Qazi Maulana Mufti Abul Irfan Mohammad Naimul Haleem Qadri Razzaqi Farangi Mahli on Saturday, voting for such parties who have desecrated the pictures of religious shrines is not allowed. Muslims should stay away from such parties till they seek forgiveness and guilty are punished.
Surprisingly, the fatwa even mentions Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS for pursuing divisive politics.
The fatwa dated February 18, 2012 also mentions that as per Islamic Shariah such act should be done. It even mentions that Islam respects the religious places of other religions. The fatwa also states that Muslims should not undermine the sanctity of religious months, animals who are being sacrificed and those heading for Mecca.
The cleric Farangi Mahli who issued the fatwa is different from more prominent Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli.