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Bukhari's new diktat to Muslims: Vote for AAP in Delhi. Party rejects support

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A file photo of Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Imam of the Jama Masjid.

A file photo of Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Imam of the Jama Masjid.

New Delhi: With less than a day left for Delhi to go to polls, Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari of Jama Masjid has asked Muslims to support the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly elections.

He appealed Muslims to vote for AAP candidates and help in forming a secular government in Delhi.

AAP however, has rejected Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari’s support for the Delhi polls. AAP says, “We don’t agree with his ideology, people of all religions support us.”

The imam catapults himself in the news during each election by offering support to parties which are either in power or who have popular support.

In 2004, Bukhari had launched a surrogate campaign for the then BJP leader and PM A B Vajpayee. During the Lok Sabha polls, AICC president Sonia Gandhi met Bukhari, triggering a political row. The religious leader then announced his support to the Congress, the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar.

Anointment ceremony of Imam Bukhari's son illegal: Delhi High Court

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Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves as he walks with Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, during his visit to in New Delhi on May 27, 2014. -AFP/File Photo

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves as he walks with Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, during his visit to in New Delhi on May 27, 2014. AFP/File Photo

New Delhi: The central government and Wakf Board Thursday told the Delhi High Court that the anointment ceremony of Jama Masjid Shahi Imam’s son as the Naib Imam (deputy Imam) was “illegal” and has no legal sanctity.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw was told by the Delhi Wakf Board that it has not given any legal sanctity on appointment of Imam and will soon hold a meeting in this regard.

The anointment ceremony is scheduled for Nov 22. The court after hearing the arguments reserved its order and will pass an order later in the day.

The court was hearing three public interest litigations (PILs) filed that said Jama Masjid is a property of the Delhi Wakf Board and Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari (Shahi Imam) as its employee cannot appoint his son as Naib Imam.

During Wednesday’s hearing counsel for Archaeological Survey of India and the central government told the court that Jama Masjid is a historical monument and it has to be decided how rule of primogeniture will apply on succession of Imam or chief cleric.

The pleas said Bukhari’s decision to anoint his 19-year-old son Shaban Bukhari, as the Naib Imam or the deputy Imam was wrong as there is no provision under the Wakf Act for hereditary appointment of the Imam.

“Despite knowing that the Imam is an employee of the Wakf Board and it’s the board which has the right to appoint an Imam, he (Bukhari) has declared his 19-year-old son to be a Naib Imam and is holding a dastar bandi ceremony for the purpose, which is purely anti-Islamic,” the pleas said.

Jama Masjid is India’s largest mosque built during the Mughal era. Besides, the PILs asked the court to declare invalid the appointment of Bukhari as the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid.

The pleas also alleged that there is a “complete anarchy and misuse of power” by the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid.

Bukhari recently sparked off a controversy by announcing that he has invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the ceremony of anointing his son as the deputy Imam but did not feel the need to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(IANS)

Muslims condemn Imam Bukhari

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Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves as he walks with Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, during his visit to in New Delhi on May 27, 2014. -AFP/File Photo

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves as he walks with Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, during his visit to in New Delhi on May 27, 2014. AFP/File Photo

First things first, Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari, who goes by his hereditary title of “Shahi Imam” is not a representative of Muslims in this country. In fact, no individual, organisation or seminary is.

Muslims, who speak different languages, and live in different regions of this vast country have a very syncretic identity, and contrary to popular belief are not monolithic.

Secondly, Delhi’s Jama Masjid is not Makkah, Madina, or Al Aqsa (Jerusalem) for Muslims, it’s, as it has always been – a mosque, just like any other mosque. So, this ceremony of anointment of Imam Bukhari’s son to the title of ‘Nayab Shahi Imam’ (Vice Imam) has nothing to do with the faith of Islam or its followers. Without grinding words, it’s merely a personal event, given that its appointment has become a genealogical bequeathment than one based on competence, which anyways is frowned upon in Islam.

Having said that, this author is well aware that, when this “Shahi Imam” of Jama Masjid invited Nawaz Sharif and “ignored” Narendra Modi for his personal ceremony, it is, as a matter of course, has been taken by the media, political establishment and a great number from the masses, as a case of Muslims embracing the “enemy” and snubbing the “great leader”.

Nothing could be further from the partial truth.

Muslim organisations from various parts of the country have expressed their annoyance over Imam Bukhari and his act in the name of Muslims.

Shia Personal Law Board and All India Ulema Council Secretary (Mumbai) Maulana Zahir Abbas said: “The relations between India and Pakistan is critical at the moment and at this time such an act by the Imam may spread a wrong message among Indians.”

“I think, inviting Nawaz Sharif and not inviting our own PM Narendra Modi is unacceptable; if he invitied Nawaz than he should have invited our PM too,” Abbas added.

All India Ulema Council General Secretary Maulana Mehmood said: “I dont want to give this a political colour. If Bukhari has invited Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and not invited Narendra Modi, it is his personal choice, I don’t want to comment on it”.

All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board member Kamal Farooqi reportedly said Bukhari’s act will give the entire Muslim community a bad name.

Aligarh based, Forum for Muslim Studies and Analysis (FMSA) asked the Indian government to end by an act of parliament the “un-Islamic Imamat” that allows the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid to designate his successor from his own family.

“We do not support the BJP but once the electorate has made its choice, Modi is the prime minister of all citizens including Muslims,” said Rozaullah Khan, chairing a meeting at the Media Centre.

By inviting Sharif and ignoring Modi, Bukhari has greatly insulted Indian Muslims, he said, and urged Indian Muslims to boycott Bukhari.

FMSA Secretary Jasim Mohammad said the mentality of the Shahi Imam was not positive for Muslims and the nation. He said that while Bukhari was at liberty not to invite Modi, he should not have invited Sharif.

Another speaker, Farhat Ali Khan, said the Imamat in Jama Masjid should be run on Islamic principles. “This undemocratic Imamat must end.”

Humayun Murad, a professor, said religious heads had a duty to bring about communal harmony.

“Ahmad Bukhari has turned the Jama Masjid into a political platform. We will not allow it to go unchallenged.”

The FMSA passed a resolution condemning the Shahi Imam’s invitation to Sharif and asked the Indian government to end “this un-Islamic Imamat through an act of parliament”.

Congress MP Husain Dalwai was critical of the Shahi Imam over the ceremony, saying there is no succession act in Islam and that it was not necessary that the son of the king should succeed him.

He wondered why he should have called Pakistani Prime Minister.

“Why he did not call prime ministers of other Muslim countries?” he asked.

For the ceremony, Imam Bukhari has sent out invitations to several Indian and foreign political leaders, nearly 1,000 religious leaders from across the world, and others. Congress President Sonia Gandhi will not attend the ceremony.

We are not sure, what’s on platter for dinner, but if you are interested in going, please check it with the Imam yourselves. The grand event is on November 22.

Delhi Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam attacked

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shahi imam bukhari

New Delhi: The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, was attacked by a 32-year-old man who tried to set him ablaze during Sunday evening prayers, police and witnesses said. The accused, said to be mentally unstable, was arrested.

The incident took place at the Jama Masjid when the man approached the Shahi Imam while the latter was praying, poured kerosene on him and tried to set him ablaze, younger brother Tariq Bukhari told IANS.

But the attacker failed to harm the Shahi Imam, one of the best known Muslim clerics in the country.

“The Shahi Imam did not receive any external injury,” Tariq Bukhari said.

“The man was later caught by the Imam’s security personnel and others who were praying. He was handed over to police,” he said.

He was identified as Kamaluddin alias Kamal, a resident of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.

Kamaluddin was taken into police custody but officials were yet to decide the charges under which he should be booked.

“Kamaluddin is believed to be mentally unstable. He poured kerosene on the Shahi Imam and tried to set him on fire with a cigarette lighter,” Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Goel told IANS.

“If the Shahi Imam files a complaint against the man, he might be booked for attempt to murder,” he said.

Apart from a lighter, a box of matchsticks was also found in Kamaluddin’s pocket, police said.

Police said there was chaos when the attack took place because hundreds of people were praying in the sprawling redstone mosque, but the situation turned normal very soon.

Asked why the Shahi Imam was targeted, Goel said: “The man is mentally unfit, not mad.”

Additional Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar told IANS: “He told police that he travelled by train and reached Delhi yesterday (Saturday). He wanted to meet the Imam. When he failed to meet him despite several attempts, he attacked him.”

The man was being questioned late Sunday.

“We are trying to find out the reason why he wanted to meet the Imam,” the official said. “At the time of the attack, the accused was alone.”

The Shahi Imam was also attacked by another mentally disturbed person last year during Friday afternoon prayers. The man had attacked him with a paper cutter. He too was overpowered and arrested.

The 17th century Jama Masjid, reputedly India’s largest mosque, is located across the Red Fort.

(IANS)

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