<p>The “fatwas” recently issued by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, Deoband, terming divorce by a man in an inebriated state as valid and prohibiting Muslim youths from “falling in love with a non-Muslim girl and befriending any girl, who is a stranger,” have drawn flak from Muslim clergy and ordinary people.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While many Muslim scholars condemned the “fatwas” terming them nothing but “publicity stunt,” many others were not very forthcoming in their criticism, fearing a possible backlash.<br /><br />“Drinking alcohol is prohibited in Islam....to offer namaz (prayer) in an inebriated state is considered a sin...then how can a divorce given in the state of drunkenness be said to be valid,” said vice-president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Kalbe Saadiq.<br /><br /> He also said that none could impose any restriction on ‘love’.<br />“I do not think people will accept this fatwa,” he added.<br /></p>
<p>The “fatwas” recently issued by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, Deoband, terming divorce by a man in an inebriated state as valid and prohibiting Muslim youths from “falling in love with a non-Muslim girl and befriending any girl, who is a stranger,” have drawn flak from Muslim clergy and ordinary people.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While many Muslim scholars condemned the “fatwas” terming them nothing but “publicity stunt,” many others were not very forthcoming in their criticism, fearing a possible backlash.<br /><br />“Drinking alcohol is prohibited in Islam....to offer namaz (prayer) in an inebriated state is considered a sin...then how can a divorce given in the state of drunkenness be said to be valid,” said vice-president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Kalbe Saadiq.<br /><br /> He also said that none could impose any restriction on ‘love’.<br />“I do not think people will accept this fatwa,” he added.<br /></p>
