Now Muslim Board to identify 'fake' clerics

Taking a cue from the All India Akhara Parishad (AIAP), an apex body of the Hindu saints and ascetics in the country, which had released a list of 14 fake babas in the country and asked the government to take stern action against them, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) would also identify ‘’fake’’ clerics.

 According to the sources in the AIMPLB, the board feels that there is an urgent need to identify the clerics who do not possess adequate knowledge about the ‘shariat’ (Islamic Laws) and often create confusion in the community by their faulty interpretations of the shariat on sensitive personal issues.

 “There are many clerics who are seen taking part in debates and discussions on TV channels on sensitive issues concerning the Muslim community...a majority of them do not have proper understanding of the personal laws of the community...they often extend faulty interpretations...it sends a wrong message,’’ said a prominent Muslim cleric here.

 He attributed the opposition to triple talaq (divorcing by pronouncing the word talaq three times in one go) within a section of the Muslims to the confusion created by fake clerics.

 ‘’Had the true position of Shariat with regard to the triple talaq been conveyed to the community there would not have any opposition at all,’’ he said.

 He said that the board would discuss the issue in the next few days and come out with concrete proposals to weed out fake clerics.

 The AIAP had also recently come out with a list of 14 ‘’fake’’ babas, which included rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Asaram Bapu and Radhey Maa.