Now, fatwa against Iftar parties

The Lucknow-based Islamic seminary Nadwa-tul-Ulema has issued a fatwa (religious decree) against such parties calling them “un-Islamic.”

The fatwa was issued a few days ago in response to a query by a retired Muslim army officer, sources close to the seminary told Deccan Herald here.

‘Validity’ questioned

The officer had sought to know the “validity” of Iftar parties hosted by political parties from an Islamic point of view.

In response to the query, Mufti Zahoor Nadwi of the fatwa department said such parties had no “validity” in the eyes of Islam. “The real reason behind throwing such parties is political...the organiser has his vested interests in mind while hosting the party,” the Mufti said. “On many occasions, the host even does not know about Islamic traditions.
These parties are in effect an exercise in vote bank politics,” he added.

A senior Muslim cleric supported the views expressed by the seminary and said rozedars (Muslims who keep fast) must avoid such parties. He went on to cite the example of former president A P J Abdul Kalam, who had donated the fund for an Iftar party to an NGO.

However, Maulana Ather,  spokesman, All India Shia Personal Law Board, said there was nothing wrong in such parties.

“What’s wrong in attending Iftar parties by political parties...whosoever hosts such parties also is also blessed by the almighty,” he said.

Maulana Ather said it had become a common practice to issue fatwas by Muslim clerics on trivial issues. “Such fatwas are issued only to gain cheap publicity,” he said.
It is said that in Uttar Pradesh, former chief minister H N Bahuguna had started the tradition of hosting Iftar parties during Ramzan.

Throwing such parties have become a fashion of sorts these days. Practically every political party hosts Iftar party for Muslims.

They also try to ensure maximum participation from the Muslim clergy in such events. “It has become a show of strength also,” said a senior Muslim leader.  This is not the first time that community leaders have come out against accepting Iftaar invitation from political parties. In 2001, Mufti Mukkarram Ahmed, Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, had articulated his opposition to the practice.